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To: Avid Shabby Princess User

1. Mind your own fucking business.

2. Shabby Princess KNOWS about my site, and has reviewed it. I've purchased commercial licenses for the things I've used.

3. Kiss my ass.

I'm so tired of people posting bullshit on my blog. I don't want your opinion. I don't care what you have to say. Jesus people, if you can't show your identity, keep your mouth SHUT.

We're LIVE!

Over at wordpress - all blogs have been imported.

I'm still working on the RAK button. For now, you can either leave the button you have, or right click and save the button (the link has been updated).

It's not perfect yet, still working out kinks, but I'd still love some feedback!

Also, I'll leave this blog up for a week or so, so everyone can update their links.

http://mymommyhood.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you there!

I'm moving

This is probably stupid, but within the next week, I'm going to be transferring my blog over to WordPress.

I started a Photography Blog over there and fell head over heels. (I can literally hear my sister rolling her eyes)

I know it's going to be a huge project - and I'll likely lose some readers, AND I have myself linked all over the place. Please, please change your links to:

http://mymommyhood.wordpress.com/

Nothing is set up yet, I'm going to slowly move things over. I'm going to be a real pain because the RAK buttons are going to change (just the link associated with it). Sorry!

I know this is going to be a pain. And, I'm sorry for it. I just need more than what blogger is giving me right now.

I'll let you guys know right before I do it.

Thanks! and Sorry!

Yay!

We're up to 11 RAKers! Keep spreading the word everyone! This is very inspiring!

RAK: Monday

This week we're going to compliment people! I want you to dish out AT LEAST one (sincere!) compliment to someone per day.

It can be anyone, co-worker, husband, child or even a stranger. But, it has to be someone different every day.

Tell someone how nice they look, or how smart you think they are. Everyone needs a good compliment.

Now go forth and be kind!!

What a difference a year makes!

4th of july
Originally uploaded by Jennifer Palao

This is a picture of my sweet girls last 4th of July. They have both changed SO much. Just looking at this makes me misty eyed. Nana was pointing up in the sky, trying to show Pia the fireworks. I just can't believe my "babies" are so big now.

Pia is signing like a champ, completely able to communicate her needs. She's SO smart (I know, all moms say that about their kids!). You can just watch her figure stuff out. She couldn't get on the couch, so she figured out how to push the wipe container over and stand on it! She's got her mama's temper - but even that cracks us up! She knows where her eyes, ears, head, hair, legs, tummy and boobies are. She's so goofy, she pretends to sneeze because she gets a kick out of people saying "bless you". She tries to wink and we about die of laughter.

Nana is speaking so clearly, and amazing me daily. She can be so incredibly sweet. She LOVES her sister so much - it really melts my heart to see them interact (except when they fight, which is more often that I anticipated for a 3 yo and a 1 yo). Her current wish is to get married (to Josh, from Drake and Josh), get a job and have babies. She talks about their wedding all the time - she has such an imagination!

I just love them, so much. It consumes me at times. In the good way.

On: Atheism

One of my friends shared this link with me. If you want a good chuckle, check it out here. It's Conservapedias definition of Atheism.

Now I could get all offended and pissed, or I could laugh it off. I chose to do the latter. You see, I know most Christians don't feel this way (at least the ones I choose to have in my life) and if they do, screw em. Those aren't people I want in my life. And, I hope they realize they aren't being Christ like.

In light of that, I thought I might just clear up some common misconceptions. These are things I've actually run into in my life.

1. Atheists largely don't hate Christians. Of course you'll find some "angry" atheists out there, just like you find "angry" Christians. They are just angry PEOPLE - no need to attach a faith (or lack of) to it. You will find atheists disillusioned by Christianity, and perhaps a bit angry - but the anger is directed at the faith, not people. Try not to take it personally, these people need to work through it and let it go.

2. Atheists do have morals. Just because God isn't in my life, doesn't mean that I don't know how to be a good person. I do it for myself, not because the bible says. I've actually had someone ask how I set aside time for my family if we're not going to church. Seriously? The only time you set aside for family is Sunday mornings? Because I do it every day. It scares me sometimes when people use God in that way. When I was a believer, I still didn't do good things because of him, but rather because of me.

3. Atheists are not "hope killers". This one really had me laughing. To lump all atheists together and say we go around killing hope by proclaiming there is no God is a joke. I've never, ever told anyone there is no God. I only say I don't believe in him.

4. Atheists will bring their children up as atheists. I fully intend to teach my kids about ALL religions, and let them decide for themselves what they believe in. It's a very personal choice and I will not push my (lack of) beliefs on my kids.

I ran across a blog once, and the title was "Why I Hate Atheists" - this woman was a hard-core Christian. Yet she had a whole blog dedicated to hating people. Again with the unchristlike. I thought the belief was that God would be the ultimate judge - and it's not up to people here to pass judgment?

I have a deep respect for all faiths. I just don't agree with them. I don't let it change the way I view people. Many of my friends are Christian. I respect them and their beliefs. Why can't everyone do the same?

It seems to me so many use the bible to suit their own needs. I have to say that I don't think that was the intended use. People hate gays because the bible said it's wrong. That makes me sick/sad. I feel like anyone can interpret the bible in any way, but if someone is *really* a Christian, they will take the ultimate message that God loves everyone.

Conservapedia says that Atheists are responsible for the "most killing and bloodshed in the world" and there is a picture of Joseph Stalin. Hilter anyone? Or like my good friend Ei said, how about the Crusades? Killers are killers - regardless of their faith (or lack of).

Some more nuggets from the lovely site:
Atheists don't give as much to charity
Atheists engage in immoral activities (homosexual intercourse, co-habitation before marriage)
Christians are more likely to avoid poor mental and physical health
Atheists are more likely to kill themselves

Etc, etc.

It just makes me sad that it has to be one vs the other. There are problems on BOTH sides - people being judgmental and hurtful. I don't understand.

I'll end with my favorite atheist quote!

I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. - Stephen Roberts

RAK is on Busy Mommy Product Review!

YAY!!

I think this is so important, and it's close to my heart. I can't tell you how happy I am to see that button on a blog!!

And now Stacy, at Busy Mommy Product Review wrote a whole post about it!

Thanks Stacy!!

Hump Day

So today my sister asked if I would meet her at the outlet mall. My day started out way earlier than usual, I still have this fing headache, and she needed to get out, so we agreed to meet at 10.

Things started out just fine. We went to Carters (I puffy heart Carters) where I bought each of the girls a cute pair of sunglasses. Still pretty uneventful. After Carters, Pia decided she didn't want in her stroller anymore. I let her out to walk, and a motorcycle went by and scared a good year off her little baby life. She's very sensitive. She totally ate shit while trying to keep an eye on the bike as if to make sure it wasn't going to eat her.

We then went to eat. I asked Nana what she wanted. She promptly replied ice cream! Umm nope, try again. She wanted nothing but ice cream. Jamie decided to give it a try and got to her agree to a Crabby Patty (otherwise known as a hamburger). Me being mom and all knew this wasn't going to work. She's tried a CP once before - and literally gagged like the drama queen she is. Whatever, we'll try again. Yeah, not so much. Jamie did manage to get her to eat several bites, but her face while chewing was priceless. She'd never make it on Fear Factor.

So we leave and decide to visit a fountain they have (which they give gondola rides on - it's seriously lame - little fountain?). We stay there for a bit and it starts raining. We head for cover, which happens to be Osh Kosh. We shop - found adorable 4th of July outfits - and leave. Walking towards our cars, I notice Nana decided to employ the 5 finger discount on some hair ties. Nice. So, back we head to Osh Kosh with the future felon. I make her give them back to the lady and apologize, explaining to her (while trying NOT to laugh my rear off) that we don't take things, it's stealing, blah blah.

So, we leave. Once I get in the car, nature calls, for me. Not the easy kind either. Now, I'm not a public pooper. I can't do it - I freeze up and my body just won't cooperate. I'm miserable, but stuck.

Then, it starts raining. Again. Hard. I despise driving in the rain, it freaks me out.

So we do make it home, without incident, only to discover I left the garage door open - all day long.

I'm just a mess.

All in all, it wasn't an awful day - I've had much worse.

On: Liking your kids

I've heard whispers around that some people don't always like their kids.

For shame!

Only I mean for shame that it's only whispers. It shouldn't be one of those "unspoken" emotions. It should be talked about. Because you know what? It's normal. I'd bet everything I have that every.single.mom has not liked their spawn at one point or another.

Is there anyone in your life you like ALL THE TIME??

No matter how much I love the people in my life, I don't always like them. My kids included. They are people too. With their own personalities, attitudes and ideas. You're not always going to mesh with them. That doesn't negate the love you have for them. In fact, admitting this will probably lift the guilt and enhance your relationship. Trust me, they aren't always going to like you.

We, as mothers, need to STOP being so hard on ourselves. Seriously. Yes, this is all very important, but stop spazzing, beating yourself up, drowning in guilt and all the rest. Perfection is over rated.

E-Mail Forwards

Generally speaking, I hate them. Most are completely useless, false or filled with Christian propaganda.

But, if you're one that enjoys these, I've got a gentle (or not) request.

http://snopes.com/ - a beautiful little site that verifies stories, myths and urban legends. An invaluable tool.

Seriously. Especially with this being a politically heated year. If you insist on forwarding e-mails, check the facts first. Where else in life would you spread information that could be false without checking it first?

This is largely spurned by the Obama e-mails floating around in cyberspace. You know the ones - he's a Muslim, he's unpatriotic, etc.

If anyone bothered to actually CHECK THE FACTS they would see it's all bullshit. And maybe, just maybe the idiot forwards would stop.

My PSA for the day.