Go-Go Mommy

Getting Back Into the Groove

I'll be the first to admit that my mojo has been thrown off a bit this summer. For those of you who know me and those who don't, I can, at times, be a little clutzy. Okay, maybe more than just a little.

You see, part of my blogging routine is taking and posting photos that relate to my blogging topic. And this summer I seem to have lost my digital camera during my trip to Michigan, purchased a new camera when I returned home, broke the new camera within 2 weeks of getting it (by dropping it on the sand while I was taking pictures of Poppy building sand castles at one of our new local parks - note to self: ALWAYS wear wristband while taking photos), found out that repairing the new camera would be 1/2 the cost of the camera and hence, half the cost of just buying a new one, finding my original camera that I thought was lost only to find that it, too, is broken and will not take photos. EEEK!

My saving grace...KB is taking me this weekend to get my very first iphone! Look out everyone...I feel my mojo coming back!!

I Got "The Nod!"

I just found out that Amy Sleep from Graco's Blog chose my post on "Banana peels and other ways to lose "cool points"." to receive Graco's "Monthly Nod" for February.

Yipee! My first major award as a blogger! Thank you Amy & Graco!

Hooray for Scientific Research!

First came the study that "beautiful people are 36 per cent more likely to have a daughter than a son as their first-born child."  Now we learn that women with larger hips (and smaller waists) are more intelligent than women who have slimmer or rounder figures.  While I am focusing on the "large hip" part and not-so-much on the "small waist" part, I must say that I am liking these studies, and myself, more and more.

As a newer SAHM, it's easy to feel self-defeated when caring for your own appearance.  Don't get me wrong, I still get up, get showered, and go through my 5 minute make-up routine on most days - okay, after watching this maybe it's actually a 2-3 minute routine.  And because I have a 3.5 year old and a 1 year old, I feel this is an accomplishment in itself.  The hard part is finding the time (and energy) to actually work-out so I can accomplish the "smaller waist" part of the aforementioned study. 

Well, maybe I don't even care so much about the smaller waist.  I would just be happy to put off the "chicken arm" that's sneaking up on me.  Or tone down the bit of extra padding that is hanging on to the "larger hip" asset I seem to have acquired since my two girls were born. 

Either way, until I can get to it, I'll just have to rely on the fact that I had a girl as a first-born and my larger hips are here to stay!

You can also find me at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.

Project: Life Change - Update!

I finally did it - another step toward making significant strides in my life! It was not a huge step by any means. But as one of my favorite movie's explains, it's all about "baby steps!"

I actually got to go on a MNO last week at the oh-so-quaint Vino Locale in Palo Alto! The Food was organic and yummy, the wine was delizioso, and the company was the best part of it all. First, I got to go with my newest PAMP Parents' Club friend, "E". She is an awesome mom of a beautiful 9 month old daughter. We met at the oh-so hip photo shoot that our girls participated in a couple months ago. Thanks for a fun night, E!

Also, I learned that it's never too late to make new friends - especially when you are participating in Project: Life Change and you are making yourself available to change. I really enjoyed meeting the other moms there: "A" and I had a ton of fun talking about our little ones and found out they are even close to each other in age! And I even met a killer WAHM, "W", who has an awesome business creating and selling babyslings (among her many other ventures). She is a real inspiration and really made my night by saying that she already read Go-Go Mommy and especially liked "the potty blog." Wow! What a night.

Thanks again Stefania and Jessica - hope you enjoy the update!

Project: Life Change - I'm Enlisted!

Thank you Stefania/ City Mama and Jessica/ Sassafrass for initiating Project: Life Change!! I heart blogging and I heart you! For the past 11 and 1/2 months (I can't believe it has already been that long) I have been in the midst of my own Project Life Change. Now, thanks to you I have an official title for what I've been doing with the last year of my life. I'm very excited to join your fun-lovin' community of support as I continue to work at making life-changing progress.

Here are some of my own life changes. Some are bigger than others but all have been made to find the "balance" we all seek... to enjoy our families while keeping in touch with ourselves, our communities, and (for us SAHMs) our sanity by having contact with the "adult" world. TGFB! (Thank goodness for blogging!)

1) This all started with a difficult second pregnancy, 5 months of bedrest, and still my second daughter was born 5 and 1/2 weeks early - my little Sweet Pea. After realizing how lucky I was to have her (and my own life) after the premature delivery, I decided it was time to focus on family. So, I excused myself from the "professional" world to take care of Poppy (daughter number one) and Sweet Pea full-time. A real live SAHM. (God, that was scary!)

2) I sent a poem into cyberspace (as JB): After months of recuperating (with HUGE thanks to my mother-in-law who traveled from MI to Silicon Valley to help us for the first 7 weeks) I ran across a "makeover" contest on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog and created an extemporaneous poem about why I deserved a makeover.

3) I became a contributor to the Silicon Valley Moms Blog (pen name JB): While I didn't win the makeover contest, I was a finalist and got a free manicure where I met Beth and agreed to accept her invitation to blog. Thank you, Beth, for saving my sanity as a newly minted SAHM and connecting me to a great new network!

4) I made a new friend, and so did Poppy: Xiaolinmama was also a makeover finalist and we had a great time chatting while getting our manicures. In sum, we hit it off and she has been my inspiration for Life Change #5. You rock Sheila!

5) I started my own blog: Who knew that the poem I wrote on the fly would have opened these new doors for me. I now have a creative outlet, a place where my voice can be heard, and a new more intimate network where I can share my parenting challenges and successes with others who totally get it. As I commented when CityMama began her Project Life Change: "It really is true - when a door closes, a window opens. Welcome to the greatest opportunity - living your life with your beautiful family. Enjoy every moment! (& call me during the tough ones!)"

6) I have a maid service every other week: Yes, I admit I cannot "do it all" at home. I'm finding I do love to cook, I'm becoming obsessed with recipes, I don't mind doing dishes and laundry but I have never loved or been the best at the rest of the housework. (I told you they weren't all earth-shattering.)

7) I have entrepanurial thoughts almost daily: This may not sound like a Life Change but I try to give myself some time during each week to sort these out, bounce them off my sounding board (KB), and continue to work on the best ones - once in business, always in business I guess. As I continue to meet new people in the blogging world, it will be interesting to see what will develop on this level.

Again, thank you Stefania and Jessica! We Life Changers need all the freebies support we can get. Seriously, Sheila and I are working on a Mommy Martini & Manicure night out at Santana Row. Anyone else out there in too? If so, we could have something else in common on our Project Life Change list!

You can also find me at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.

New Face on the Block: Poppy the Politician?

In today's political climate, it's easy to get caught up in the in all of the "mommy-wars" blogging, fundraising, debating, and policitical posturing that's going on out there. It makes one ask: "Who will be brave enough in the future to put themselves (and their family) 'out there' to serve the public?"

I don't know if Poppy will be thick-skinned enough for such a calling but I just found out that she is a natural politician.

Poppy: (Watching the movie Air Bud.) Wow! His mommy is very beautiful!
Me: Yes she is, that's nice of you to say. Is she as beautiful as your mommy?
(I know, I know, leading question but what to you expect from an attorney?)

Poppy: You're beautiful too, mommy.
(Time to get more specific.)
Me: Thank you, but who is more beautiful? Mommy or Air Bud's mommy?
Poppy: Well, you are just both beautiful to me.

I needed that "mommy pick-me up". Thank you Poppy!

I also blog at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.