"Momma" Where have You Been All My Life?!?!?

I am a self help book junkie. I have every book on every topic you could possibly imagine, from conception to teenage years. If I have an issue I turn to a book because in that huge pile of books, the answer has to be somewhere, right??? The general consensus in all of those self help books is that you must be doing something wrong as a mother and your child is nuts. You have to read through chapters and chapters of nonsense until you come to this conclusion and then you feel just as helpless as you did before you even picked up the book. Does this sound like you?? If so then run, don't walk, to get yourself a copy of The Momma Guide. Where has this book been all of my life?!?!?! I have never seen a book that covers everything, from conception to empty nesting. From what to cook for a holiday party to how to deal with your Teenager learning how to drive. This book is not only for birth mothers but for Step mothers, adoptive mothers, grandparents, fathers, caregivers, thinking about being mothers and everyone in between! This book is empowering and makes you feel like, Yes, you are a good parent and YES you can get through this!!! I love the inspirational quotes throughout the book and how the chapters are short, sweet and chock full of valuable information!

Not only does it have a wealth of information on children but it has a wealth of information on things such as moving, saving money, and even starting your own business! The Momma Guide is truly a one stop book for everything you could possibly imagine! The only thing this book is missing is a "quick look up guide" in the back of the book but you can pretty much find what you are looking for in the "Contents" section in the front of the book.

This past week my father went in for heart surgery and my husband had to go to the hospital for dangerously high blood pressure. I am a firm believer that you should always tell your children the truth when it comes to anything medical because they will feel less afraid if they know what to expect. None of the self help or child rearing books I have even touched the subject of heart issues but The Momma Guide devotes a full chapter to it. I was able to quickly read through the chapter (Chapter 18, Health Problems: The Heart) and explain to my 4 year old daughter just how the heart worked, what they were going to do to Daddy & Paw and what foods we are going to cook for them to help their hearts get healthy again. Then things got even cooler! I was able to then flip to Chapter 16 (Dealing with Stress, Anxiety & Depression) and get help for myself while dealing with all of these heart issues as well as know what to look out for with my dad & my husband. Just when you think, "WOW, this book really helped you through a rough patch" I yell, "Wait, there's more!". Not only was I able to look up information on the Heart, explain to my daughter what the heart does and what heart issues my father & husband were having, learn how to deal with my stress and anxiety over it, learn how to help them with their stress and anxiety, I was also able to turn to the Chapter on "Getting Fit" to help my husband loose the weight he needs to loose in order to bring his blood pressure down AND found some YUMMY recipes in the book to cook for these two men while they were recovering while all the wile using the inspirational sayings, reading the Chapter on making time for MOM and how to keep your child entertained for free. In one week time this one book answered all of my questions, gave me great advice and helped me through a difficult time.

So I guess all that is left to say is... I am having a book sale, all of my self help books are for sale. I have no use for them now since I now have "The Momma Guide". It really is a one stop shop for everything you could possibly imagine!!!!

** I received a copy of this book from one of the Authors for review. This is my own personal opinion of the book. **

Blast?

I ran into an old friend from Junior High/High School today. Why do I always run into people when I look like crap? I had thrown on a black tee shirt and some dark red pants and ran out of the door to go get some errands done. I figured that I was out early enough to NOT run into anyone I knew but I was wrong....

TheMatDaddy has been having fun re-living old High School memories now that he is on Facebook and finding old friends. I thought I knew all about his crazy younger days but I guess wrong again! Just because you have known someone for 14 years does not mean that you have heard about all of the crazy things one has done in their youth. It made me think back to my High School days. Those are days that I really don't want to remember. I don't know what group I was in when I was in High School. I was certainly not Miss Popular but I did try out for the Dance Team, on a dare, and made it. I politely declined joining the Dance Team after I won a coveted spot on the squad. I also had to share a date to Junior Prom. My date ditched me last minute because a popular girl agreed to go with him after he had asked me. I was the "last ditch date". I remember how bad Tommy felt that my date had dumped me last minute and even though he was already going with my friend Kelly, he still asked me to go with him as his date and even took those AWFUL Prom Pictures with me. I had fun, I think.... I don't quite remember. My senior prom... my senior prom.... crap, let's not go there. I just wish TheMatDaddy would have gone with me but for some reason he didn't.

I did not keep in touch with anyone from High School. I went on my merry way, moved up to Ohio with TheMatDaddy to escape. It sucked in Ohio just as much as it sucked here but at least I was away and on my own.

About a year ago I ran into a girl I went to High School with who WAS Miss Popular in school. She had married Mr Popular. She was not working, so she said, because he made a ton of money. She seemed to be lonely and very unsure of herself. She followed me around Old Navy while I shopped, almost like she was dying to talk to someone, anyone. She had no children, she was just alone while her husband worked in his successful business. In High School she would not give me the time of day but here we were and things were different but the same. She expected me to like her just because, she expected me to talk to her just because but in all honestly I felt sorry for her.

I sometime wonder if that it what it is like for other popular girls from High School. Did they grow up and realize that looks don't get you where you thought it was going to get you? Granted, my life is not all wine and roses but it is a life.

I ended up not going to my 10 year HS reunion a few years back because I started thinking, do I really want to see these people again? Did I really want to re live days where I was forgotten? I mean there were a few separate instances where the "President" of the class scratched my name off of a list and I ended up either not being invited to a class wide function or completely forgotten when it came to graduation. I was laughed at, made fun of, called ugly... I had three boyfriends my entire life.... one dropped me like a fly when someone better came along, the next... well he was nuts and the last one I married.

So here I am, in my 30's and into Social Media, the biggest popularity contest in the world! Have things changed.... not much! I just hope that my daughter has a better time in High School then I did and not as crazy of a time that TheMatDaddy did.

A few to review

What am I reading:

I just finished reading "Mommywood" by Tori Spelling. I enjoyed it. I read it in just a few short hours one lazy afternoon. Actually, I was able to read it because Little Bit fell asleep mid day! Oh do I miss nap time! Anyway, I really have respect for Tori Spelling. Yes, she cheated on her husband and yes he cheated on his wife. Yes I do think the fight with her mother is crazy. Despite that she seems to have a loving family. You can tell that she loves her husband very much and that he loves her. She has an extreme love for her children and for her friends. She is not afraid to say what she thinks and that is refreshing. If you enjoyed STori Telling then you will enjoy Mommywood.

I also just finished reading "Once In A Blue Moon" by Eileen Goudge. It was a little too heavy for me. Too emotional. I am reading other people's reviews of the book and I am wondering if they actually read it. I am not one for heavy books. I like light hearted, comical, romance. This was knock down, painful, and OH SO emotional. If you enjoy heavy books, ones that will really make you think and you dont mind the "cry your eyes out" styling of Eileen Goudge then by all means pick it up. Her writing style is exquisite. She really takes you into the characters of the book and makes you feel what they are feeling. When I read, it plays like a movie in my head, so needless to say, I really cried a lot while reading this book.

Next up is "The Momma Guide" by Traci Davis & Vicki Holleman-Perez. I am excited to read this book. Not only is it co written by a wonderful Facebook friend but after looking through the Table of Contents, I KNOW that I will learn a TON from this book! I am always up to adding parenting guides to my library of books. Most books that I have read are age specific. They either deal with infants, toddlers, pre teen or teen. This book covers them ALL and keeps going! I have a feeling this will be my new "Kiddy Bible"!!!!

Music:

I was fortunate to receive a copy of Michael Buble's new CD "Crazy Love". It arrived the day before TheMatDaddy and I took our long trip down south. I waited to listen to it on the ride back because we were picking up a car and driving back separately. I cranked it up and recognized a lot of the songs. It was fun to sign along all by my lonesome! The following day I played it in the living room on the stereo and we all danced around the house. It is a really good CD. I do have one complaint. All but 3 songs have been on one of his CD's in the past. This is being advertised as a "New" CD and not a "Greatest Hits" CD.

Candy:

With Halloween almost upon us I was excited to receive a box of Necco Waffers! I use to LOVE Necco Waffers. My mom used Necco Waffers to help us practice for our First Communion as young children. My little sister and I use to play church and Necco Waffers were "The Body of Christ". All you religious people out there dont get offended by this! I come from a very large southern catholic family. My mom and her sister played Church when they were little. It is just something fun that we would do and it in no way was disrespectful towards God or the Church. Hey, we got in a TON of prayers while playing! You should give it a try sometime!

I did not realize that they had chocolate packs and not just the original!!! My mom came over, saw the box and swiped a bunch of them! I dont think they will last us until Halloween but that is ok. I would not want to hand them out anyway! Want to keep them to myself!!!!

*I received the book "Once In A Blue Moon", the book "The Momma Guide", the Michael Buble CD and a box of Necco Waffers to review on my blog from their companies and respective partners. The book "Mommywood" was checked out from my local library.

Not as Classy as you think

So I get emails about a one certain "blogger" at least 3 times a week. They are pretty much all the same and want to know the same things. Instead of having to talk about someone who is so not worth it over and over again, I figured I would just lay it all out here in a post and be done with it. So, here we go!

Yes, I knew her in real life. Yes, we lived in the same town. Yes, I knew she was badmouthing me. Yes, she badmouthed you as well. Yes, she did tell your secrets. No, you should not trust her. No, there is nothing you can do about her stealing your idea unless you have proof and you want to sue her. Yes, she has been sued before. No, her husband did not leave her while she was pregnant. That is just an excuse so that she does not have to say what really happened. No, she did not deliver her baby alone. Her husband was standing right outside and she refused to let him in. Yes, I worked behind the scenes on her site. Yes, she fired me. Why did she fire me, maybe because I had figured her out, maybe because she told me to talk to her husband about the business aspect then became irate because we were "talking too much"? Really there is no correct answer. Yes, she stole my ideas as well. Yes, Public Relation and Company reps have flat out stated that they are "not impressed" with her. Yes, she called me a stalker because she would email me to join this new site or do this or come over to my house and help me figure out some plans and then turn around and tell people I was stalking her. Yes, I have all of the emails to back up the fact that she invited me to join and or begged me to join sites she was on. No, I did not keep the emails because I am a stalker, I never delete emails and I have an email inbox of 6,000 plus emails as proof that I never delete emails. Yes, she is very prejudice. No, she will never change. No, please don't say anything bad about her husband, he really is a very nice guy who wants what is best for his child. No, I never tried to steal her husband, friendship/business relationship was all it was and no, I was never alone with him. Yes, my daughter was hurt and did not understand why she would not allow her child to come and play anymore. Yes, she used "those bloggers" for her own personal gain. Yes, she is using you. Yes, if you really want to know if she is in fact talking bad about you then contact the girls she is so called friends with that she is talking bad to you about. They will have a mouthful for you and know more about you then you think. Yes, she ruined many a friendships for me. No, I am not bitter, I am just pissed off that she acts like she is still in High School and likes to drag people down with her. Yes, I heard what happened to her at BlogHer 2009 from someone who witnessed the whole thing and yes, I did laugh. No, she never graduated college (but that is really no big deal). Yes, I know a lot more than I am posting but would rather not comment because it is not my place to tell all of her dirty little secrets. Yes, if you don't believe me please, by all means, go ask someone else. They will pretty much tell you the same thing. Yes, there is a group that wants to "take her down" and no I am not a part of the group. Yes, people are quitting projects because she has "come on board" and yes they are complaining to the heads of the projects about her. No, I do not wish to comment on her child. Her child is a sweet innocent and does not deserve to be dragged into the mess it's mother made. Yes, I do wish she would just go away.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Have a nice day :)

Because I panic

I remember like it was yesterday. December 12, 2007 I was laying in my bed. It was almost three weeks since my diagnosis and the medication was not working. I was getting worse and the Dr's were baffled. I laid there alone not sure what to do and not sure who to turn to. All I knew was I was in pain, I was miserable then it happened....

I started to sweat. I heard a loud thumping noise and I felt the noise throughout my body. Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump...... Then that noise, that horrible noise. It was like a siren in my ears and as it got louder I got hotter and hotter. My ears burned like they were on fire. I had this gut wrenching feeling that I was going to die, I was dying, this is what it felt like to die. I did not know what to do. I had never felt like this before. I tried to move my arm to grab the phone and I could not move. The sound was getting louder, the heat unbearable, I was soaked in sweat. I finally managed to get my hands on the phone and I called 911

"Operator, What's Your Emergency"

"Something is wrong. I think I am dying!"

"Stay calm we have someone on the way"

After what seemed like an eternity the ambulance showed up. The time I spent on the phone with 911 was a blur but I remember them saying to stay calm and keep talking. I was hooked up to all sorts of things in my little bed in my room. I heard them say heart attack, I hear them say that I needed oxygen, I heard them say that I needed to get to the hospital fast. My neighbor came running over and called my parents. My dad met me at the hospital.

When I got there my oxygen levels were in the 80's. My pulse was in the 120's. My blood pressure was high but I had not had a heart attack, my hands feet and face were blue and I could not feel my fingers. As the nurses tried to straighten out my arms and legs that were curled up in a fetal position and so tense that I could not move them the Dr explained that I had had a panic attack and a full blow nervous breakdown. I was put on a 72 hour psychiatric hold until they could decide what they wanted to do with me.

I was in a room with no TV, no windows, no magazines and a guard posted at the door. The door was a huge glass door and I had no privacy. I had nothing to do but lay there and cry. They would not give me anything to eat, they would not let anyone in to visit. I was alone with my thoughts and they were not good. Finally after over 12 hours like this, at 3am, the Psychiatrist showed up. He had them move me to another room, one with a TV, magazines and some privacy and I even got some visitors. It took a massive amount of medication but they finally got me to sleep.

I was aloud to eventually leave the hospital but instead of inpatient therapy, I was taken to outpatient therapy. I spent 4 months with a group of wonderful people just like me. I made some lasting friendships, even though it was frowned upon to make friends.

I now live with panic attacks. Because I panic I cant do what I use to do. I have to talk myself through things in order to do them. I have to reassure myself that I wont die walking into a room. I have to reassure myself that if I don't tap my foot three times, spin in a circle and cluck like a chicken I WONT DIE! (I don't really do that but I do other crazy stuff like that)

"I have been through this before and I will go through it again. It did not kill me then and it wont kill me now."

So the reason I write this is because I am not ashamed and if you are like me, you are certainly not alone.

I am not crazy just special.

Dear Jon and Kate Gosselin,

Dear Jon and Kate Gosselin,
How did we go from this:

to this:

Now Kate, I am going to address you first. Jon just keep your pants on, don't screw the girl next to you while waiting... you may just want to listen to this too.

Kate, do you realize that there are millions of women in your situation? Do you realize that these women can not go on the Today show and bitch and moan about their soon to be x-husbands stealing money out of their joint bank accounts. Do you realize that a thousand dollars is a lot of money to NORMAL people.

You should be thanking GOD that you have a roof over your children's heads and food in their bellies. Let me tell you why you should be thankful...

Millions of women are abandoned by their husbands. Millions of women are abandoned by their husbands and left with children to care for. Millions of women are abandoned by their husbands, left with children to care for (and some even have more kids then you) and have had their bank accounts completely wiped out. I mean NO MONEY LEFT. What do these women do to protect their children.... they certainly don't go on the Today Show to wine and cry about it. They do something called GETTING A JOB. Thats' right, they get a job. They sell their house if they still have one to begin with and move into something that they can manage on their own and yes, some women end up in shelters WITH THEIR KIDS. They eat food out of the garbage can. They sleep on the floor so that their children can have the only bed in the entire house or shelter, they work 60 plus hours per week to put food on the table and a roof over their head. They don't bitch and moan, they just do it because THAT IS WHAT A MOTHER DOES FOR HER CHILDREN.

Jon... let's move on to you for a moment. Kate sit tight, I am not done with you yet. First off you need to go and get yourself sterilized because OH LORD if one of these skanks gets pregnant with your love child then what the hell are you going to do? Next get yourself checked for STD's because if I hear next that one of your kids caught an STD from your stanky ass then I will come down and personally slap you myself, but I will wear a surgical glove because I dont want to catch the skankiness. Seriously, I dont want to hear about your penis so do us ALL a favor, please.

Now lets move on to this video:

Jon, do you realize that when you speak badly about the mother of your children you not only loose the respect of the people around you, you also loose the respect of your children. NO MAN (or woman for that matter) should EVER speak poorly about the other parent in front of the children OR ON NATIONAL TELEVISION! What are your kids gonna think when they grow up?

You know that you can never take this back because what you say is replayed a million times on You Tube and media outlets. (did you hear that too, Kate??)

Jon, my husband would tell you that he has suffered abuse from me as well. This is called HAVING A WIFE AND KIDS.
I have to defend Kate on one subject that you mentioned in the extended version of this video. I was a stay at home mom, still am, and when we get a chance to go out then we GO OUT. You should feel blessed to be able to spend alone time with your kids. You should be happy and proud of your wife for wanting to do more, to better herself and to show the kids that a woman is more than a wife and a mother. Too bad she did not end up doing that but still.

WHY are your even talking about this???
I agree... Kate you are obsessed with hearing yourself talk.

So Jon and Kate, what have we learned?
First off, shut up, stop talking to the media, stop talking to your attorney. Try talking TO EACH OTHER for a change. You may THINK that you are sheilding your children from all of this but your kids have friends, they are in school and people talk. Instead of hearing the whispers that their parents are getting divorced they are hearing the screams that their father is whoring around and their mother is playing the pity card. They know what is going on and they are learning the WRONG WAY to end a relationship.
I speak from experience. I am a child of divorce and I am divorced.
Did you know that people all over the world have 8 children or more and they don't think that they are entitled to everything in the world. So stop acting entitled and start acting responsibly.

Wordless Wednesday

I CAN NOT believe how big she is getting!