tropicofmom - Profile | Pictures | Blog
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User: tropicofmom
From: South Florida
Joined: Apr 15 2008 - 02:11:05 PM
Last Visit: Jan 27 2010 - 08:12:59 PM
Website: http://www.tropicofmom.com
I am a: Stay-at-home parent
My work and family:
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Tropic of Mom 5 photos
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Tropic of tropicalness | Moms Miami Tropic of tropicalness
I love baby clothes . I call myself a babyclothesaholic. I enjoy dressing my kids in cute outfits -- even though they're boys. In fact, it's a good thing I don't have a girl, or my family could very well be in debt. I know at some point, my guys won't want me to pick out their clothes and will cringe at the sight of anything I even hint at them wearing. So I'm taking full advantage now. It was just luck that...read more...Family weekend travel to Tampa | Moms Miami Family weekend travel to Tampa
I could call this post There's Too Much to Do in Tampa, so Don't Even Bother Going There Or You'll Be Disappointed in All the Stuff You Didn't Do, but that title was too long. Our family took the long holiday weekend to travel to Tampa anyway. Why, no reason. I mean, we couldn't find a good reason not to. Mostly it's because my husband had to pick up some equipment on the other side of the state. So we...read more...A very merry un-holiday to you | Moms Miami A very merry un-holiday to you
It seems so unfair. We had Christmas Eve on Thursday and Christmas on Friday, then a nice weekend. We had New Year's Eve on Thursday and New Year's Day on Friday, then a nice weekend. And now this weekend? Nothing special going on. So I made up my own special un-holiday. For our Green Hour , the boys and I played in a park that we seldom go to because it's not exactly close (but not exactly far). The...read more...Top 10 signs you've been pregnant too long | Moms Miami Top 10 signs you've been pregnant too long
10. At your doctor's office, they're talking about inducing you. But it was the janitor in the elevator who suggested it first after taking one look at you. 9. You won't be held accountable if you happen to punch the next person who says to you, "You don't look comfy," or "Are you sure it's not triplets?" (Both said to me in the past week.) 8. Family and friends who were once interested...read more...It was nice while it lasted | Moms Miami It was nice while it lasted
One of the hardest slaps in the face for parenting has to be when your child ruins something you treasure. Let me back up. We did it -- we bought a van. In the eyes of some folks, we're now officially a family. OK, my husband bought the van. It was his idea. But it's not a minivan. It's actually an extended van. It seats so many people that I could start a nice summer camp for children. (My mother: "How...read more...Baby showers for the second (third, fourth...) child? | Moms Miami Baby showers for the second (third, fourth...) child?
This will be my second baby (38 weeks along today!), and I have pretty much everything I need to welcome home a child. I think most parents probably keep things like bassinets, swings, car seats and Xanax if they think there's a chance they're going to have more children -- and we kept almost everything. What we needed (a double stroller, a second baby monitor), my husband and I bought. I still have my son's baby clothes...read more...Companies make buying craptastic for parents | Moms Miami Companies make buying craptastic for parents
Consumer advocates seem to love to point out that moms are a big influence on how a family spends their money . Many marketers acknowledge this too. This isn't news -- but many companies still aren't paying attention . Do they really think moms will think it's OK for the Little Einsteins boys to be able to stand up, but not the girls? Moms were girls once, after all. And while we're talking about...read more...Posted on: May 29 2009 - 02:15:00 AM"You are soooo beach chic" | Moms Miami "You are soooo beach chic"
My town's convention and visitors' bureau (aka tourism board) had a slick booklet in the weekend newspaper this weekend with the enticement to take a quiz to find out my beach personality . Having spent my teen years wasting time reading teen-girl magazines (and a couple mags I probably wasn't supposed to be old enough to read), it's hard for me to resist a quiz. So I checked it out. They told me:...read more...The pregnancy pillow bakery | Moms Miami The pregnancy pillow bakery
Husband: So you're using your pregnancy pillow a lot now, huh? Me: This? No, it's just a regular body pillow. From last time, when we were expecting the Man-cub. Husband: So what's a pregnancy pillow, then? Is that the thing that looks like a bagel? Or is it more like a croissant? Me: A croissant? Husband: Yeah, like the Man-cub's Boppy. Me: Um. I guess that's shaped like a croissant....read more...Cookie stealth 101 | Moms Miami Cookie stealth 101
I think if you're a normal person, every once in a while you eat a little more than your share of the cookies. Um, right? But you don't want anyone to notice how many cookies you've eaten. Once again, perfectly normal. Human nature, I'd say, no matter how old you are. Well, here is a great solution! Once one row of packaged cookies is gone, move the second row to the first: From...read more...National Wildlife Week nature activities for kids | Moms Miami National Wildlife Week nature activities for kids
There aren't a lot of holidays or celebrations in the year that have to do with wildlife. Oh sure, we had Groundhog Day last month, but isn't that over in about 15 minutes, tops? We think about reindeer at Christmas (but it's a stretch), and sometimes bats for Halloween. But this week, Monday through Friday, is National Wildlife Week . So no animals will get left out. It's a push by the National Wildlife...read more...Don't let this happen to you! | Moms Miami Don't let this happen to you!
No one needs to carry around seven packages of wipes. Five lipsticks and two lip balms. Two kinds of sunscreen. An open bag of granola bites that is months old. And a harmonica. A harmonica , peeps! The seven Hot Wheels cars are totally necessary, though. One of the consequences of my becoming a mom has been the state of my bag. (A guard at Disney who inspected it told me, "You know, this isn't a purse...read more...Car math | Moms Miami Car math
Just after our son son learned to walk, my husband was already making plans to build the boy a pedal car. I know, those plastic motorized cars that cost $500 new at Toys R Us are a big hit with the preschool set, but when it comes to cars and toys, my husband is more old-fashioned ... er, he would say classic . After months of scouring eBay for a fixer-upper (because my husband loves a challenge), he found and won a set...read more...A mama in the Bahamas | Moms Miami A mama in the Bahamas
One extremely cool thing about living in South Florida is how close the Caribbean is. Like, a flight to anywhere in the Bahamas takes an hour or less. And heck, I can't even get out of the state of Florida in that amount of time. You also can get to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island by cruise ship in about five hours, we found out this past weekend. I think it would take even less time, but the Discovery Party Cruise...read more...We are the proud owners of the letter A | Moms Miami We are the proud owners of the letter A
As a parent, you might start out an optimist, but eventually, you become a realist. And it might happen several times. For me, it can happen every day. I start out the day as an optimist and, well, it can go downhill from there. Like the day recently when I thought my son would be fine walking by my side (ha!) in the craft store so I could pick up a few tubes of paint. The Man-cub remained cheerful through our quick trip but...read more...Halfway through | Moms Miami Halfway through
Halfway through my pregnancy today, that is. It's going by so fast! I had an ultrasound yesterday. My husband and I aren't finding out the baby's sex, though. What we did find out is the baby has what's called a "bright spot" on the heart. It could be nothing, as the doctor suspects. But there's a chance it could mean the baby has a chromosomal disorder like Down syndrome. Early on, we decided not to...read more...Posted on: Feb 3 2009 - 06:00:00 PMDriving in the snow, South Florida style | Moms Miami Driving in the snow, South Florida style
Snow drifts? Roads that haven't been cleared? No problem! The white stuff is no match for the snow tires on this baby. Getting the frost off the windows in the morning wasn't even an issue. It's been cold here, but not yet cold enough to snow. And the fact my son hasn't seen snow and probably won't for a while doesn't keep him from talking about snow at least twice a week. For...read more...A rare sight | Moms Miami A rare sight
Last night, it got down in the 30s. As in, close to freezing temperatures! So my husband made a fire in the fireplace. I know, a lot of people are scratching their heads over why we have a fireplace in our South Florida home. When we were thinking about buying this place, though, we thought it was pretty cool. We certainly didn't grow up having a fireplace. There are only about three weeks out of the year...read more...In which I compare gorilla BO and elephant dung | Moms Miami In which I compare gorilla BO and elephant dung
For the new year, my family realized our annual pass to Miami Metrozoo is going to expire in a couple of months and that we'd better use it while we can. I think Metrozoo must be the prettiest zoo in the country. Or at least one of the prettiest. The zoo has a new exhibit that just opened up about the Amazon . The most interesting animals were in hiding when we showed up, but we did get to see, um, a fish. And some snakes....read more...Christmas is my job -- And here's how it's gonna go | Moms Miami Christmas is my job -- And here's how it's gonna go
Somewhere along the way, Christmas became my job. As in, not my husband's job . For the past several years, I have been the one to shop for the presents. Wrap the presents. Package and ship the presents. I pick out or design the holiday cards. Address the cards. Stamp the cards. Mail the cards. I keep track of who has sent us cards to make sure they get a card from us, too, because HOLY HECK, that has to be the top rule of...read more...And this is why they call it the terrible twos | Moms Miami And this is why they call it the terrible twos
The boy hit the floor, crying, the moment he and his mama stepped into Target. The boy ran away from his mama at the park to chase ducks. Repeatedly. The boy ran away from his mama at home to run right into the street. (The mama's legs and back were getting tired.) He spit out the carefully chosen prescription to help his constant straining cough. He spit it out again. And again. Timeouts wouldn't work. Timeouts in...read more...When your child hits someone in the butt with chocolate... | Moms Miami When your child hits someone in the butt with chocolate...
Dear Madame Shopper: I am so, so sorry that you got hit in the butt with a six-pack of Hershey's chocolate bars*. I just know that you were trying to find the words to say something kind and witty like, "Well, that's where all the chocolate I eat ends up anyway, ha ha!" But the surprised and mortified look on your face when you turned around to see what had hit you in the butt told me that your mind was just a bit...read more...Posted on: Oct 27 2008 - 04:35:00 PMThis is why I'm crazy | Moms Miami This is why I'm crazy
The scene: My son and I are in the backyard. He spots his tree swing. Man-cub: Swing? Swing? Me: Oh, you want to swing? OK. Umpf. Here you go. Aaaaand . . . . Swing! Whee! Man-cub: (smiling) Man-cub: Down? Down? Me: You want down already? OK. Come here. Man-cub: No! Swing! Me: All right. Swing it is. Whee! Man-cub: (smiling) Man-cub: Down? Down? Me: You just got in the swing. You sure you want down? Man-cub: No! Swing!...read more...Make Tracks Family Trail Weekend | Moms Miami Make Tracks Family Trail Weekend
Remember my recent post about playing with kids in the great outdoors? Yeah, I don't blame you. I think it was called something like Take a Child Outside Week . It's not quite a national holiday -- at least not yet. (And Take Your Dog to Work Day is getting closer and closer to that status.) Well, there's yet another outdoorsy, kid-friendly event this weekend called Make Tracks Family Trail Weekend , or MTFTW....read more...Mailbox full of catalogs | Moms Miami Mailbox full of catalogs
The nation is facing a financial crisis, and last week we saw an unprecedented 777-point drop in the stock market. I, however, have seen the largest one-day gain in the catalog market. My mailbox was stuffed with stuff. Companies want me. They want me bad . Problem is, most of the stuff they've got is stuff I don't want. Let me show you. Here is Exhibit A: Looks nice enough, but... ...where is the Mom...read more...Jack-o'-challenged | Moms Miami Jack-o'-challenged
OK, I need help. (Of course, if you have been reading my posts, you already know that.) My son just turned two and is coming to an age where he is going to start remembering things. So I have to be extra nice to him now. He is also almost to the age where he is becoming impressed by -- for my lack of a better brain -- things. You know, things . One of the things coming up is Halloween. And I am scared. Not because of...read more...Go take a hike: Take a Child Outside Week | Moms Miami Go take a hike: Take a Child Outside Week
You know you've been indoors too long when you look up at a beautiful blue sky full of white puffy clouds and immediately think about the opening scene of The Simpsons . Not "Gee, what a great day for kite flying" or even "What are those things in the sky? Oh, yeah -- birds ." So to help make sure my son doesn't become a couch potato, we're going to celebrate Take a Child Outside Week....read more...No driving in Davie for me | Moms Miami No driving in Davie for me
Even though I've heard great things about it, I will probably not ever take my son to the Young at Art Museum . And I might not go back to Flamingo Gardens . Both of these attractions are in the town of Davie, which recently decided it's going to charge people who are in car crashes requiring emergency response. I'm not talking about a $10 fine -- it's more like $800, according to the news. Let's say...read more...Grown-up snack time | Moms Miami Grown-up snack time
There is a cherished tradition here chez Tropic of Mom: snack time. I'm not talking about dumping out some Oreos presenting sliced fresh fruit on a plate for my son in the middle of the afternoon. No, this is grown-up snack time (GUST?). Once my son is sweetly napping, it's time for me to relax with a little refreshment. I deserve it. After all, I most likely wasn't able to finish my lunch or eat enough -- most of the...read more...Dara Torres update | Moms Miami Dara Torres update
Remember my overarching proclamation that I was going to try to interview multi-Olympic medal winner and hometown girl Dara Torres here at Tropic of Mom? I have submitted two polite requests to her managers, PMG Sports , and haven't had a response. (Can I pull at my collar and do my Rodney Dangerfield impression? "I can't get no respect.") I know Dara Torres is a busy woman. But you would think PMG Sports...read more...A cheap way to get culture | Moms Miami A cheap way to get culture
For families who live closer to Palm Beach County -- or who don't mind driving.... If you're always looking for something to do with your children during the day, visit the Norton Museum of Art on Tuesdays from 10 till noon. Until the end of the year on Tuesdays, the museum has an "early bird" discount that offers adults half-off admission to the museum. There is also a free half-hour docent-led tour at 11:30...read more...A baby portrait is worth a thousand words -- I mean bucks | Moms Miami A baby portrait is worth a thousand words -- I mean bucks
Even before your child is born, people want to know what he or she looks like. It starts with the ultrasounds, and then requests for pictures from Grandma begin to be made before the paint is dry on the nursery walls. Somehow, expecting parents end up on marketing lists, and before your due date rolls around, you're already being guilted into capturing all those precious moments of your baby's adorableness to cherish...read more...Yes birth control, no periods | Moms Miami Yes birth control, no periods
Just about every single magazine I read has these ads for birth control that gives you a way to have only about four menstrual cycles a year. A recent article I found says more women are interested in birth control that gives them fewer periods . But I wonder, isn't this messing with nature a bit? I've never known a woman who actually enjoys that special time of the month, but maybe there's a good reason for not...read more...My morning guilt trip | Moms Miami My morning guilt trip
So with Tropical Storm Hanna bringing us rain and a light breeze today, and Hurricane Ike expected to hit Tuesday or Wednesday (we have an "another week, another hurricane" attitude around here), I took the Man-cub to the store to refresh our supplies. I thought his jacket was in the car, but by the time the house was locked and he was strapped into his car seat, I realized the jacket was MIA. No big deal. It was barely...read more...County parks closed on Tuesdays | Moms Miami County parks closed on Tuesdays
Poor Tuesday. What's so great about Tuesday? There used to be a commercial on the radio that proclaimed Tuesday as the most boring day of the week and that nothing significant ever happened on a Tuesday. (Except for the deeply discounted pizza or sandwich or whatever the commercial was for.) I suppose Broward County thinks Tuesdays are meaningless, too, because now county parks will be closed on Tuesdays because of budget...read more...I am going to stalk Dara Torres | Moms Miami I am going to stalk Dara Torres
But not in that creepy stalker way that gets you arrested. No, I am just going to find out if it's possible for a humble mom blogger to get an interview with this amazing repeat Olympic medal winner who happens to train in a pool that's a 10-minute drive from my home. See, that will be my angle, if I happen to get ahold of her manager: Wouldn't Dara Torres love to talk to a hometown girl like herself? She's a...read more...The maybes of Tropical Storm Fay | Moms Miami The maybes of Tropical Storm Fay
Tropical Storm Fay has passed. I'm relieved all she did was dump a lot of rain here because I didn't really feel like polluting the environment with our gas-powered generator and because dealing with insurance companies is a pain. However, part of me is really disappointed Fay didn't give us a show. I know that sounds twisted and selfish. I think maybe I just get caught up in the excitement. Maybe I enjoy seeing...read more...Boy toy, no -- bargain, yes | Moms Miami Boy toy, no -- bargain, yes
I admit I love a bargain. I have been married, and happily, for 13 years, so I get my thrill-of-the-chase on looking for stuff on the cheap. Who needs a boy toy when you can find a Vera Wang dress at TJ Maxx for $13?! OK, don't answer that question.... Anyway, one of my favorite ways to feel like I'm getting something for free -- a feeling second only to that rush you get from a roller coaster -- is to take advantage...read more...Just say no to Future Ant Farmers of America | Moms Miami Just say no to Future Ant Farmers of America
My son and I were eating at the kitchen table when he decided to play a game. "Head!" he said, his spaghetti-sauce-covered hands reaching for his hair. "Head, shoulders, knees and toes!" I sang. The Man-cub looked down and pointed in my direction. "Knees?" I asked. "Toes?" He kept looking down. Finally, he got off his chair and bent very close to my toes. What was he doing now?...read more...Cruising with Grandma -- on the roof of her car | Moms Miami Cruising with Grandma -- on the roof of her car
What do three-year-old girls like to do for fun? Maybe ride on the roof of a car while Grandma drives -- oh, but really slowly, and while holding onto the girl's leg? That makes it fine, right? That's the crazy news of the day from the Florida Keys. A woman was arrested after people called police about a woman driving in a parking lot with a small child on the roof of her Lexus . She apparently told police she didn't...read more...Find the drink | Moms Miami Find the drink
There is a game here chez Tropic of Mom that I call Find The Drink. Unfortunately, it's not a fun game. It's a tiresome hide-and-seek exercise in which my son hides his sippy cup and I have to look for it. Every! Single! Day! It typically goes like this: mid-morning rolls around. My son gets thirsty. I prepare a cool beverage for him in his cup. Then as I prepare to get us ready to leave the house for the morning's fun...read more...Meet the Barefoots. Barefeets? Barefeeted? | Moms Miami Meet the Barefoots. Barefeets? Barefeeted?
You know how they say you never get a second chance to make a good first impression? I just blew it yesterday. See, we have new neighbors. Sort of. After more than two years on the market (I know!), the house next door finally sold. The first clue was late last week, with a couple of trucks in the driveway and workers pressure cleaning the roof while strange children wandered in and out of the front door. Then a large Dumpster...read more...An unsexy hole in the water | Moms Miami An unsexy hole in the water
We live in Florida, so it was inevitable: my husband and I are thinking about buying a boat. (Gas prices are way up! Perfect timing!) Not only do we live in Florida, but we are in the Venice of America -- so called because of all the canals here -- and some people even consider this the boating capital of the world (although those folks haven't traveled much). Almost everyone here has a boat. If you don't have a boat,...read more...My weekend freakout at the museum | Moms Miami My weekend freakout at the museum
This weekend, my husband and I took the Man-cub to the Museum of Discovery and Science . We thought he'd enjoy seeing the kid-friendly exhibits. However, we found out one of the exhibits isn't very kid-friendly, and the Man-cub fell down a flight of stairs. Because I try to keep things light-hearted on this blog, I'll talk more about that later in the post. First, the fun stuff. The museum has a special exhibit now...read more...Moms on patrol | Moms Miami Moms on patrol
My husband is the one to pick apart the newspaper in the morning, and he pointed out an article on the front page of the local section about a group of moms who volunteer to patrol playgrounds in Coral Springs , where we live. " Moms on patrol !" he chanted with mock importance. I offered him a fake smile and started reading. Each Park Mom visits "her" local playground at least twice a week to check for things...read more...You know you're the mother of a toddler when.... | Moms Miami You know you're the mother of a toddler when....
--You feel you're throwing away more food than your child eats (unless you eat the scraps) --You've become so blase about freakouts that your motto is "Another day, another tantrum" -- Naptime is indeed the new happy hour --You often think Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde had nothing on your child --This morning's perfect hair twist is this afternoon's tangled, loose, ratty knot --You hear "NO!" so...read more...Knock, knock! | Moms Miami Knock, knock!
Knock, knock! Who's there? Neighbor. Neighbor who? What neighbor? I don't see anyone.... Oh, down there! Hello, Man-cub! Yeah, that's a hilarious joke. But probably only if you were there. See, my son has learned to knock on doors. And while watching him push his stroller around in front of our house, he decided to bolt up the driveway of our neighbor and knock on the door. After trying to explain to Mr. Neighbor...read more...Rule number one: Confuse your predator | Moms Miami Rule number one: Confuse your predator
My son loves a good chase. He loves to have me chase him so much that even when I'm not trying to chase him, he starts running away from me. All I have to do is take a few steps toward him, and off he goes. Great fun, let me tell you.... Today, I was chasing him around and around the house when he suddenly stopped and turned around to face me. This was different. I crouched down and looked at him, wondering what could be...read more...A night of "cooking" | Moms Miami A night of "cooking"
MomsMiami.com had an event at Mr. Food No-Fuss Meals last night. Free wine and snacks were promised, along with a fantastic Mr. Food meal, so of course I was there. The first stop was a place to put away my bag in a cute locker and grab an apron. I know I should have ditched the baby/mom bag for a chic clutch! But it miraculously fit anyway. My friend Guinevere came, and she is such a Rachael Ray wannabe pro...read more...Posted on: Jul 17 2008 - 02:20:00 AMBite this | Moms Miami Bite this
I went into Whole Foods for one thing (even though I know I can't do that ). It might have been non-chlorine diapers or some lotion from Burt's Bees. It doesn't matter. I ended up getting some all-natural Italian soda, soy milk, dinner for the husband, some chips and other items -- including an apple that the Man-cub grabbed off the display and started eating. (The cashier gingerly took the pock-marked apple from me to...read more...What is the place of this place? | Moms Miami What is the place of this place?
Today I was thinking about what makes a place its own place . (I was also thinking about my belly button. Not in a meditative kind of way, but just remembering how when I was pregnant with the Man-cub and my belly button sort of turned inside out, there was black stuff stuck to it and I asked a nurse if it was dirt or if that's what belly buttons are supposed to look like. She just smiled, which means it was dirt, and now I...read more...No need to drink and drive | Moms Miami No need to drink and drive
Last night, my husband and I learned just how big of a social outcast we are. We take the Man-cub for a walk through the neighborhood every night after dinner and often stop to talk with people. (Or maybe, they stop to talk to us, because they see we have the cutest child ever born.) One of our neighbors a few doors down was taking out the garbage or something, so we stopped to talk with him. After chatting for a while, he...read more...Thank God for neighbors with illegal fireworks | Moms Miami Thank God for neighbors with illegal fireworks
Well, thank you for all your votes . My husband's vote won out, though -- even more than my vote. We went to Lion Country Safari. We arrived just in time for it to start raining. They say that's the best time to see the animals, though. But because you can't roll down your window while you're driving through, you can't photograph the animals with raindrops on the glass. For example, here are the lions....read more...Posted on: Jul 5 2008 - 12:45:00 AMTell me what to do this weekend | Moms Miami Tell me what to do this weekend
This is what happens when you don't look at the calendar: Me: Honey, you're off work tomorrow! Husband: Why? Me: It's the Fourth of July! Husband: Already?! Me: Yeah! And I'm so mad because it would have been the perfect long weekend to go somewhere but now it's probably too late to make plans so we're stuck here like a bunch of losers. Husband: Speak for yourself. (Apparently, we missed all the...read more...Posted on: Jul 3 2008 - 09:25:00 AMFear of unleashed dogs? | Moms Miami Fear of unleashed dogs?
Today I took the Man-cub to a park we'd never been to before. We played for a while, but just when I thought we'd both faint from the heat, I heard thunder rumbling in the distance. That sealed the deal -- we were leaving. As I picked up my boy, I saw several harried parents freaking out, grabbing their children and running in our direction. (Now, if they had been running away from us, I would just figure Who could blame...read more...A toy story: Imagine a revolt | Moms Miami A toy story: Imagine a revolt
I loved the movie Toy Story when it came out, even though I was kidless then. That toys come to life when you're not looking is something lots of children imagine. But it's also something parents fear . Because toys have already taken over every room of my house. You'd expect toys in my son's room: Look away, Leap! And also a few in the bathroom: Rubber ducky, you're the one, la la...read more...Death by flip-flop | Moms Miami Death by flip-flop
This is turning out to be the Summer of Flip-Flop-Induced Injuries. First, I cracked my toe after sliding across the floor and into a wall. Then, in yet another supermarket drama , I walked across the Publix parking lot in the rain, slipped in a puddle and did the splits in front of traffic. (Fortunately, my son was safe in the shopping cart pushed by a bagger.) As if the humiliation, wet fanny and sore elbow weren't...read more...I'm full of scrap | Moms Miami I'm full of scrap
This weekend, I went to the big estrogen fest scrapbooking convention that hit town. For better or worse, I am very susceptible to the power of suggestion. All it took was one little e-mail that told me I, too, could expertly preserve my precious photos in beautiful, artsy ways by taking scrapbooking classes and plunking down money to enter the big vendor hall. That's right -- they make you pay just to shop . Rows and rows...read more...Exploiting my kitty | Moms Miami Exploiting my kitty
Darn, I hate it when I read or hear something and can't remember the source. Yesterday, I visited a site that indicated your blog will be successful if you just post pictures of cats (or maybe it was kittens). We have two cats. One of them is a super-snuggly tortoiseshell cat we got from a shelter who grooms herself almost constantly. The other is a black cat we rescued from being the runt of a neighborhood litter who never...read more...A good deed gone bad | Moms Miami A good deed gone bad
I'm afraid I sounded kind of mean in my post yesterday , even though I am not trying to be mean. Just for the record, I really don't have a reputation as a beyotch. I try to do the right thing, but sometimes I fail horribly, as I did this week. Let me just say right up front I didn't intend to risk sending a woman to jail. This is how it happened. It seems like every week, another church is in the South Florida news...read more...Posted on: Jun 17 2008 - 04:15:00 PMA new way to deal with grandma wannabes | Moms Miami A new way to deal with grandma wannabes
In yet another brush with crazy little old ladies .... Regular scenario: Standing in line at Publix. Son is in the seat of shopping cart. Grandma type gets in line behind me and starts acting like my boy is her grandson, ignoring my attempts to put myself between her and him. "How are you? Oh, you're so cute. How old are you? How old are you? Hey, how old is he? What's your name? What's your name? Hey,...read more...Care to sign my toe cast? | Moms Miami Care to sign my toe cast?
Suppose my husband opened a shipment and pulled out packing material that was made of a 30-foot-long piece of heavy paper, which he started dragging through the house to amuse our son. And maybe I thought it would be fun to grab the other end and go in the opposite direction, around the corner, down the hallway. But the thing was so long I didn't know it was actually a separate piece of packing material paper. And as I ran...read more...A wrinkle by any other name.... | Moms Miami A wrinkle by any other name....
When wrinkles start forming around your mouth, we politely call them laugh lines. It's a nice way of saying, "Oh, you've just smiled and laughed so much during your lifetime -- that's why you have a wrinkle there." As if to say, how nice! How lucky of you! Woo-hoo, you have laugh lines! You've lived a happy life. If wrinkles show up around your eyes, though, what do we call them? Crows' feet. They...read more...Rorschach test for parents | Moms Miami Rorschach test for parents
My husband's parents just got back from a fabulous trip to Europe. They e-mailed my husband a couple of photos of their tour of London and Paris. We looked at the thumbnail images that showed up in our e-mail program. One photo showed his mother and another woman in their bath robes, with a man standing in the middle. "Who are those people?" I asked my husband. "I don't know," he said. "Did your...read more...When incongruous dorks go shopping | Moms Miami When incongruous dorks go shopping
Feeling kind of ill all week, I finally decided to get some medicine and went to Walgreen's with my boy. I am the kind of person who hates -- hates! -- going to a store and buying one thing. It seems like a wasted trip. And these days when putting gas in your car is a major purchase, it seems especially wasteful. So even though all I needed was some stomach medicine, I bought more than that to make myself feel better about...read more...Sexy seniors? | Moms Miami Sexy seniors?
Can you guess what this is? A) A page from a model's portfolio B) A picture from a photographer's MySpace page C) A Hollister ad Before you start panting.... Would you believe this is actually a high school graduation photo ? Of my nephew ? Since when did graduation pictures become so sexy? (And when did my little nephew get a chest like that?) When my sister sent me this photo as part of my...read more...Don't raise your voice and other advice moms ignore | Moms Miami Don't raise your voice and other advice moms ignore
In a mom group I'm in, a while back we were discussing a book about parenting. The book suggested that when your child has a tantrum, you speak in a quiet voice and tell your child he has the option of calming down or going to his room. I laughed at this advice and told everyone in the group that my wailing, thrashing son would never hear me if I spoke in a quiet voice. I told them I would have to yell to be heard above him....read more...Meet Inappropriate Woman! | Moms Miami Meet Inappropriate Woman!
You may know Inappropriate Woman. She could be your neighbor, a friend's mother or even your own mother or mother-in-law. Usually, you come face to face with Inappropriate Woman at the worst times. It's part of Mom's Law . - - - - - Inappropriate Woman: "Oh, hi, honey, how are you?" Me: "Hi--" IW: "Look at your son's hair! Tsk, tsk. He needs a haircut. He looks like a girl. How long are...read more...Never wear sequined thongs in an aviary | Moms Miami Never wear sequined thongs in an aviary
My son has had The Very Hungry Caterpillar book for more than a year now but seems especially interested in it lately. Like probably most kids around his age, he likes to touch the holes where the caterpillar has eaten through all the food in the book. Wait, stop the story for a moment. Did you know the author, Eric Carle, lives in the Florida Keys? That's all I wanted to say.... So when you get to the last page of the...read more...Posted on: Jun 2 2008 - 04:50:00 PMThe crazy lizard stick lady | Moms Miami The crazy lizard stick lady
There are two tiny wood piles in my backyard. Little piles of sticks I've picked up from the ground. I made them myself! For the lizards, of course. Yeah, I'm a little crazy. When my husband and I moved into our house, we wanted it to be a natural place full of native Florida plants and homey enough for wildlife to move in if they wanted to. Surrounded by neighbors whose yards are "done" (come to think of it,...read more...Posted on: May 30 2008 - 04:10:00 PMA mouthful of sleepless nights | Moms Miami A mouthful of sleepless nights
Picture something that has a lot of teeth. Maybe or You might imagine or How about a baby with a mouth full of teeth? Ever heard of that? My son started teething at three months old and got his first two teeth before four months. By the time he was a year old, he had 10 teeth, including at least one molar. My mother insists it's a sign of intelligence. (But she also said that about my...read more...Fast-food summer? | Moms Miami Fast-food summer?
Yesterday, I took my son to a park where he could run down the boardwalk among the cypress trees and play on the playground. When your child's face is covered in sweat, though, that's a good sign it's too hot outside to play. When the temperature soars above 90 and the U/V index is 11, what's a mama to do with an antsy child? So we moved our operations indoors and went to a library we hadn't been to before....read more...Mom's Law | Moms Miami Mom's Law
Everyone knows Murphy's Law. Mom's Law is similar, but worse. Not only will things go wrong whenever they can, but they will go wrong at the worst possible time . Like when you are having a large family gathering at a relative's house covered in wall-to-wall white carpeting, and your child has a diaper blowout. Yeah. Or when you are on your way to visit friends you've been looking forward to seeing all...read more...A lawnmower-eat-tree world | Moms Miami A lawnmower-eat-tree world
My grandmother had 12 children. My mother had three children. (I was the middle child. Gah!) I have one child, and if I'm lucky, I'll have at least one more. But nearby I noticed a mother with hundreds of children. Behold the baby forest in my backyard: A cricket's eye-view My husband hasn't felt the need to mow in, oh, about a month. But now that it's been warm and sunny and things are...read more...More water park fun: A review | Moms Miami More water park fun: A review
In my quest to tour local water parks , today I took my son to Coconut Cove in the South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. I'd heard from another mom that it is really good , and with a glowing testimonial like that, how could I not go? Coconut Cove is close enough to go to casually, but not exactly nearby, but I had to try it out. After I paid to get in, the cashier gave me two bracelets to put on us. My son -- being a...read more...Pushy | Moms Miami Pushy
If anyone is reading me, welcome to my wildlife blog -- I mean my mom blog. Just to prove I can write about my child, I'll tell you about one of his hobbies. He loves to push things around. I think it started when I got him a hippo push toy to help him steady himself when he was learning to walk. (Not actual picture of my son.) Then my mother gave him a ride-on-top/push behind Winnie the Pooh train for his...read more...The great possum rescue of 2008 | Moms Miami The great possum rescue of 2008
How was your Mother's Day? Ah, Mother's Day. A time to celebrate mothers and take time to reflect on ... wait ... reflecting? Something reflecting in the pool. No, there's actually something in the pool. Let's take a closer look.... It's a baby possum, clinging to the pool-vacuum hose floating on the surface! My husband takes the pool net to scoop the rat lookalike into a bucket. Poor thing could have been...read more...Wherein an electrocuted iguana ruins my lunch | Moms Miami Wherein an electrocuted iguana ruins my lunch
The scene: yesterday, in the kitchen. I have just returned home with my son from a fun outing. It's lunch time. No sooner do I set down the diaper bag than the power goes out. No power means no cooking. No cooking means a cold lunch. And you don't want to open the refrigerator too much, because you don't want the warm air to move in. You don't know how long the power will be out. So I scrounge around and...read more...It's a man ... It's a dad ... It's a SAHD! | Moms Miami It's a man ... It's a dad ... It's a SAHD!
I met an interesting creature today. I've heard of them before but never met one in person. They have been glamorized and yet also sometimes been the subject of suspicion. I'm talking about: The stay-at-home dad! Able to get up with the baby in the middle of the night, do the laundry and fix the dishwasher (or so I've been told). Happy to heft a 40-pound child up his shoulders, run to the store for those three...read more...I am soooo lucky to be broke | Moms Miami I am soooo lucky to be broke
I am cracking right the heck up over an article I found in the New York Times about parents and their high-design decor clashing with babyproofing and children in general. The article highlights several parents who have either given up on their fancy decor or made a compromise. One parent was "distraught" over putting tape around a high-end table, saying, "It transformed this beautiful modernist piece of...read more...Living my water-park dreams | Moms Miami Living my water-park dreams
About zbdlkjt years ago, there was a huge water theme park called Atlantis in Hollywood right by I-95. Anyone been there? I totally loved that place. One summer in high school, I spent the whole day there and got burned so bad that I had sun poisoning for a week. My forehead swelled up so bad I looked like a beluga whale. Fun times. Even though I am a goofball responsible adult now, I dream at night about water...read more...The cult of Thomas | Moms Miami The cult of Thomas
Fearing that your child will someday join a cult is a real fear. And, I'm learning, it can happen as early as around two years old. I learned this today. Let me back up a bit. Way before our son was born (childless days for my husband and me), our Adorable Nephew celebrated a birthday where Thomas and Friends was the theme. His parents and grandparents hinted overtly that a Thomas gift would be de rigeur . My husband...read more..."Free" ice cream | Moms Miami "Free" ice cream
Today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's , so I forced persuaded some friends to go with me today. Because a good friend is there when you eat ice cream, but a great friend is there when you have to drive for miles and use lots of gas to get to the closest place where the free ice cream is. We chose the Ben & Jerry's at Sawgrass Mills Mall , a kiosk near the Colonnade area. That's the White Seahorse...read more...Posted on: Apr 29 2008 - 06:00:00 PMFun with peacocks | Moms Miami Fun with peacocks
All work and no play makes families dull, not to mention they want to strangle one another or at least pull one another's hair out. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience, of course.... Ahem. This weekend, our family went to Flamingo Gardens for a little play. We hadn't been there in a while, and we wanted to get our fix of peacocks. That's right. Because a place called Flamingo Gardens should totally...read more...You can lead a toddler to food, but you can't make him eat | Moms Miami You can lead a toddler to food, but you can't make him eat
My son is a good eater. Except when he's not. Some days, he will chow down everything on his plate, and I gladly give him seconds, plus dessert (usually a graham cracker or a little whipped cream). Other days, he'll eat something the size of a button and declare the end of his meal by pushing away his dish -- or, most likely, dumping it on the floor. Like today for breakfast. I gave my son some fresh, delicious...read more...Coyotes in South Florida?! | Moms Miami Coyotes in South Florida?!
So my husband says to me, "Did you see the article I left out for you?" "No, where?" "There on the kitchen table." "What, this city magazine?!" I asked in disgust. "Yes." "You know I don't read that!" I said. And the poor man ducked into another room. Our city mails us a glossy magazine every quarter, which I promptly put in the recycle bin. I refrain...read more...Earth Day, What a Way to Love Your Mother | Moms Miami Earth Day, What a Way to Love Your Mother
Here I was all proud of my new blog (one week old already! almost a veteran!) and how I planned to post every week day. (Whoever thought weekends were for relaxing got it all wrong. My weekends are crazy busy.) And then BellSouth ruined my plans! Yesterday, the phone and the Internet service just crapped out on our home. When we called, BellSouth said it was a quote-unquote major outage. Oh, yeah? How come I didn't hear about...read more...Another mom's junk is, invariably, my treasure | Moms Miami Another mom's junk is, invariably, my treasure
Our next-door neighbors are expecting their third boy in a couple months. Making way for baby, they have been putting out stuff on the curb almost every day. ("We're too busy to have a yard sale," Mrs. Neighbor told me.) The first day, I eyed a table they put at the end of their driveway. I thought it would be perfect for my son because he's learning how to use crayons. It turned out to be an end table -- a little...read more...Posted on: Apr 18 2008 - 04:15:00 PMSo, great weather, huh? | Moms Miami So, great weather, huh?
Many people chat about the weather to break the ice or just cover the dead air with another person, but in South Florida, talking about the weather is a legitimate hobby . I think you can even get tax deductions for any expenses related to it. Turn on the evening news, and if not too many people were shot or politicians caught money laundering or fake doctors found practicing medicine, the weather will be the first thing in the...read more...
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Art collection - Paintings in...
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