Monday, March 31, 2008

Product Review

The fine foks at Mother Talk sent me a copy of Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s new book “Naptime is the New Happy Hour” and asked me to review it. Here goes.

First, a little from the back cover…

Motherhood -- it's not for wimps.

Once the zigzagging hormones and endless, bleary-eyed exhaustion of the first year have worn off, you're left with the startling realization that your tiny, immobile bundle has become a rampaging toddler, complete with his or her very own, very forceful personality.

Just as Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay helped debunk decades of parenting myths to offer honest advice for the first year, Naptime Is the New Happy Hour is a voice of reason for every woman facing questions such as: Will refined sugar make my toddler's head explode? Is it wrong to have a cocktail at two in the afternoon? And what exactly is a Backyardigan?

With biting wit and boatloads of common sense, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor addresses all these concerns and more. Whether it's planning easy outings that are fun for both of you (fact: your child will find the local Target just as scintillating as the Guggenheim), dishing the dirt on preschool TV (those mothers who swear their kids don't watch television? Liars or psychos, every one), or perfecting the art of the play date, readers will find advice, anecdotes, and a reassuring sense of camaraderie to help them survive -- and even thrive -- during each hilarious, frustrating, and amazing moment.


And a little about the author from her Blogger profile…

One thing to know about me is that I don't like people who say "one thing to know about me." That statement tells me a lot about a person. Like that I probably don't want to know about them. Another thing to know about me is I can be a little testy. I am married to a man whose character is way too great to be believed, had a daughter on Nov. 12, 2004, used to be a TV writer and comedian but now I'm trying to live off of my books "Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay: And other things I had to learn as a New Mom" and "Naptime Is the New Happy Hour." Oh and I recently had TWIN GIRLS! Need I say more?

Now my review…

Hated this book.

The end.

Seriously though, I really did not like this book. I think the author is trying to hard to be funny and it just isn’t cutting it. She insults just about everyone – the Pampered Chef demonstrator she calls The Cult Leader, the Spanish speaking gardener, “towel heads”, the Gays, etc.

She says she only moved ten miles or so away from her friends, but she is too lazy to go and see them so she needs to make new ones. Within the first 50 pages of the book, she pretty much narrows down what she wants in a friend, and says, quite frankly, that if you don’t meet certain requirements, she doesn’t want you as a friend. Guess what Stefanie? If you live your life the way you write, I wouldn’t want to be your friend.

Now I know you are supposed to take this humor tongue-in-cheek, but it just isn’t funny. She makes so many references to alcohol and drugs (legal and not) that it really makes you wonder.

Thank you Mother Talk for letting me review this book, but it just didn’t cut it for me.*

(If you want to read a really funny book about parenting, check out The Sweet Potato Queens.)


*Anyone want my copy? Leave me a comment and I’ll draw a name and let you endure the “humor”.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Weather is Warming Up!

So please watch out for bikers.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Product Review

The kind folks at Mom Central and Kelloggs hooked me up with some...



I received a box of the cheddar flavor and we gave them a try. They were pretty good. They didn't seem to have a lot of cheddar flavor, but they were still pretty good.

So I went to the store and bought a box of the original flavor. These, my friends, were KRAZEE DELISH! As I'm typing this, I have a small bowl of them perched on the arm of the chair.

You first get the buttery taste of the cracker, then a quick taste of the salty pretzelly goodness, then back to the buttery crackerness.

I highly recommend Townhouse Flipsides. And I thank you Mom Central and Kelloggs for letting me review these Prackers? Cretzels?

__________

Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly. - M. F. K. Fisher

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Hey Y'all

Here it is...




__________

I've got a couple of product reviews I will be posting later in the week. One item isn't too bad, but the other is not so good. As a matter of fact, if I find out any one of you goes out and buys the product I didn't like, I will come to your house and beat you with it. Kisses!

__________

I've signed up to walk the 2k for Remember The Ten. My friend Kendall was killed in the plane crash seven years ago. I miss him.

__________

Hold a true friend with both hands. - Nigerian Proverb

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Road Trip!

I'm taking a road trip with my parents later this week. Therefore and thus to, I must restock the CD changer with muh country music.

Out with The Offspring, in with Dolly Parton.
Out with the Suburban Legends, in with George Strait.
Out with Jim Croce, in with Merle Haggard.
Out with Rufus Wainwright, in with Willie Nelson.
Out with Journey, in with Vince Gill.
Out with The Rugburns, in with Shania Twain.
Out with The Dandy Warhols, in with The Bellamy Brothers.

__________

I found me a T-shirt that says, "What part of Y'all don't you understand?" I don't need any new shirts, but I love this one! Should I get it?

There's also one that says, "You say potato, I say tater". hehe

__________


If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty.' - Jeff Foxworthy

Monday, March 17, 2008

Puttin' the foot down.

The Boy has had this bad habit of saying "Fine!" every time he doesn't get his way. As in "Boy, pick up your shoes and put them where they are supposed to be." "Just a minute." "No, now." "Fine!" The way he says it though, makes me fill in the blank afterward. "Fine! (I'll do it, but only because you are my Mom and you have the power! Sneer.)"

I finally had it. Up to where? Here! So I told him every time he said "Fine!", he lost 25 cents of his allowance. Zoinks!

He then started to say, "All right!" as in "All right! (I'll do it, but I would rather be saying, "Fine!" Sneer.)"

That got old real quick. So guess what this mean old Mom did? I told him from now on, he is to say, "Yes Ma'am."

Mwaaahahahahahaha!

Oooooooo, how he hates that.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Dear Husband,

When you call me at work and ask if the pants on top of the dryer (folded) are clean and if the sweatshirt (not folded) in the dirty clothes basket is dirty, I'm guessing you are bored.

Love,
Your Wife

P.S. Thanks for doing the laundry. Please use dryer sheets.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

I lurve these kittehs

Humorous Pictures
Enter the ICHC online Poker Cats Contest!

Saturday, March 08, 2008

I'm still here!

And I still love you!

Let's see....

Scotch the dog hurt his back right leg, was diagnosed with hip displasia (sp?), got almost better and then tweaked his knee on the same leg. We are supposed to keep him quiet for six weeks. Ha, I say. (Two different types of meds and fish oil.)

The Commander had his tonsils and adnoids removed and his diviated septum straightened. He is slowly getting better. (One med, but the good stuff.)

The Boy got a virus (not a stomach bug, thank goodness) and has been running a fever and coughing like crazy. (Two meds.)

Me? So far so good. Knock wood. I got my new crown (with Saturn on it!). Still have carpal tunnel. Going to the doctor next week and will probably get an injection of cortisone and a referral to an orthopedic surgeon. Oh, I did pop my elbow (on the same arm) a few weeks ago and it still hurts. My arm is out to get me.

So how are you doing?