tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35491962012-02-13T06:07:33.192-05:00Tales of Domestic Divahood Down South.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.comBlogger4751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-91177708842837422912011-09-10T01:55:00.000-04:002011-09-10T01:55:25.641-04:00

I wish I could go to Slidell and look for my joy. West Memphis, even. If only it were that easy. My joy ain't in Slidell. And sure as Hell ain't in West Memphis. I don't know where that shit is. But I think, after weeks of feeling miserable and acting like a bitch on wheels, I know when it started seeping out of my life. Joy, that is. September 10, 2001. Ten years ago today. That was the day

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-6762368851763194552011-07-25T17:21:00.000-04:002011-07-25T17:21:17.202-04:00

Today, I'm combining a couple of things. Music – my first true love – and friendship. My friend Daryl whom I've known since we were 12 has been battling non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for a couple of  years. In May, he had a bone marrow transplant. Because he works for a non-profit, Daryl is uninsured. Also, because having a bone marrow transplant essentially takes out your whole immune system for a

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-6251829505110770362011-07-25T11:57:00.000-04:002011-07-25T11:57:19.479-04:00

Well, I'll be gosh-darned if it hasn't been a while! Yes, I am back from my late-spring, early summer hiatus. It happens most every year. The kids are out of school and I'm trying to balance my freelance work and responsibilities as a mom and something has to give. Unfortunately, it's usually blogging. I still, after all these years have not found the perfect balance. Yet, I continue to seek it.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-91610030138287034352011-05-05T16:51:00.001-04:002011-05-05T16:59:24.033-04:00

As any good Catholic girl or boy might do when preparing for Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, I thought long and hard about the Lenten sacrifice I would make. The last few years I've tried to adopt good habits like daily mass, daily prayer, or daily acts of kindness and compassion, but this year, I decided I would actually make a true sacrifice by giving up meat for 40 days. I knew that

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-51948992211702662472011-03-30T17:54:00.000-04:002011-03-30T17:54:25.170-04:00

It must be Star Wars week here at Belle of the Blog, because today I'm going to share with y'all some more tips for a Star Wars birthday party so you can create the party of his dreams for that special six to 10-year old boy in your life. For the record, this was my third Star Wars birthday party, so it's getting to be old hat for me. In fact, this year, I was feeling so confident about it, that

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-76528774139838427392011-03-28T21:31:00.000-04:002011-03-28T21:31:46.514-04:00

No, I didn't fall off the face of the Earth. I've just been busy with Life... looking for a steady job, taking care of sick kids, some volunteer work, starting pee-wee flag football with my youngest, and various and sundry other projects. Sadly, I did fall off the 31DBBB wagon somewhere around Day 19. So close! Maybe I can pick it up again. Anyway, I just very quickly in the last hours of the

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-15477188104110513592011-03-04T15:37:00.000-05:002011-03-04T15:37:58.966-05:00

My husband picks on me sometimes because I so often look outside myself for inspiration and guidance. You'd think that as an only child, I'd be more independent and less reliant on others. But I'm not. Sue me. I take my inspiration wherever I can find it. Sunny day. Wise words from a close friend. Self-help books. And blogs. The last 3 weeks or so, I've found some great inspiration in the

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-87951101704109681802011-03-03T13:35:00.002-05:002011-03-04T11:26:18.588-05:00

Being in the midst of confronting my own discipline challenges with my son, I was struck dumb by a story I read in yesterday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution The story is about three middle school students who posted disparaging – and possibly career ending – statements about a teacher at their school on their Facebook pages. The statements ranged from saying the teacher was a pedophile and rapist

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-72516337295401037332011-03-02T22:34:00.001-05:002011-03-02T22:39:08.324-05:00

Between my attempting to work a little more and volunteering, Scott's traveling for work and hectic  schedule of long hours and the occasional night or weekend on call, Brendan's daily homework grind, and all the rest of our rat race, we've run into a bit of a discipline void. Brendan, always my challenging boy, has been pushing every button I own and testing all the boundaries, which I will

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-1071898424566272172011-03-01T18:10:00.000-05:002011-03-01T18:10:57.365-05:00

So.... Welcome to the new, and I hope you'll agree, improved digs. What do y'all think? As y'all may know, I'm participating in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge. One of the tasks was to create an editorial calendar for your blog, which I did. In the process of reading about forming an editorial calendar, I saw a couple of experts who recommended themed days. They claim readers

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-27509638249383506192011-02-24T15:17:00.003-05:002011-02-27T17:06:57.866-05:00

Would it be going too far to say that music is my master, to use a phrase my son loves? That a favorite song can lift me out of the doldrums or gird me in a blanket of commiseration when I need to go through, instead of around, my own heartache? If you know me well enough, you'd say yes. I can be in the worst mood, feeling lost, totally adrift, and the right music can pull me back to the safety

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-65589792518970554142011-02-20T14:46:00.000-05:002011-02-20T14:46:42.325-05:00

Shelly, special needs mom, advocate, blogger extraordinaire, and all-around amazing woman, as well as  host of the February 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge at SITSGirls wants you to come to the party. The blogging party, that is. Over the course of the last 10 days or so (the challenge began on Feb. 1, but we only have exercises on weekdays), Shelly has led us through Darren Rowse's

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-20161701726579912902011-02-17T10:16:00.001-05:002011-02-17T10:19:16.142-05:00

If you had known me when I was in college and witnessed me being angry, you might have feared me or my anger. I was, not merely a yeller, but a thrower, too. Push me too far and I would pick up the first thing I could wrap my hands around and hurl it at your head. Just ask the trashiest girl from my college class whom I found hanging out in my boyfriend's dorm room one afternoon. Or my friend J.'

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-15808775327774387702011-02-14T10:42:00.002-05:002011-02-14T10:47:06.203-05:00

There I was, in the middle of my first Zumba class, surrounded mostly by strangers as I tripped over my own feet, trying to figure out what "one-two-double-double" meant. I watched the woman next to me, trying to figure it out since I couldn't see the instructor for the 6'3", middle-aged African-American man between me and her. He had some nice moves, but I don't trust men in exercise classes to

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-29218748792205557292011-02-10T14:32:00.001-05:002011-02-10T16:52:06.750-05:00

I recently watched an episode of The Simpsons with my family. In the episode, Marge reconnects with her "mommy" friends and starts creating a social life for herself outside her family. My favorite part of the episode is animation of Marge's brain, showing the different segments of her life. A very large chunk of her brain is labeled "Repressed Rage," but after just a few moments of hanging out

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-76010240854371144772011-02-09T13:49:00.000-05:002011-02-09T13:49:00.130-05:00

I've been blogging for nearly eight years now, sometimes with great frequency and passion, other times rarely and only then because I felt like I had to. This year I decided I wanted to recommit to writing and recommit to this blog. I'm hoping to rebuild it from the ground up. I have a designer working on a new look and I plan to write, if not daily, at least thrice weekly.  To get things

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-91424927140055694062011-02-09T08:26:00.000-05:002011-02-09T08:26:32.796-05:00

Dear Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, This is an open letter to request that you butt out of my child's routine healthcare, other than to pay the bills, BC, which is what you get paid to do. Pfizer... Well, no one asked for your opinion. Our family has a pediatrician who tends to all my child's healthcare needs that can't be met by me or Mother Nature. Our doctor is

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-5226349601410564632011-02-08T21:31:00.000-05:002011-02-08T21:31:32.919-05:00

DeKalb County Schools superintendent Ramona Tyson presented her recommendations last night at the DCSS Board of Education meeting. Surprisingly, my school district came out relatively unscathed. Rather than the 112 transfers that had been predicted for us, we're only getting 44. We keep our magnet program, and the eight streets that were on the block to be transferred to another school. Not bad.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-26898761203266406012011-02-07T01:35:00.000-05:002011-02-07T01:35:12.318-05:00

A proper left-leaning kind of gal, I've always kind of accepted the ideological and philosophical notion that war is bad, unless of course, you're saving the weak from a bunch of big baddies. Love thy neighbor. Kumbaya. Yada. Yada. Fucking Yada. In the last two months, I have watched myself turn from a compassionate, empathetic, and reasonable person into someone filled with the fire of hate and

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-77431804312709108492011-02-04T07:44:00.000-05:002011-02-04T07:44:31.648-05:00

Congratulations to Marina, of My Busy Children. Marina is the winner of the Applebee's Gift Certificate to try out their new "Unbelievable Under 550 Calories" menu. Thanks to Applebee's Atlanta for their support and for inviting me to participate in their launch event.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-77489937070416840242011-02-02T10:27:00.002-05:002011-02-02T10:34:48.523-05:00

Since I was a child, I have been fascinated with the organization Care and the amazing work they do in impoverished nations throughout the world, especially the work they do for women and children. I started following Care more closely in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti and when one of my beloved college classmates began working there. I can't think of another organization with such a

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-71607974872259994842011-01-28T12:25:00.000-05:002011-01-28T12:25:59.901-05:00

As with most moms, finding ways to eat healthier and squeeze workouts into my life are priorities for me. My mom died of a heart attack at just 59 years old. Not the path I want to follow since I want to be around, strong and healthy for my boys as long as I can be. Of course, being someone who loves food and who loves to dine out, it can be tricky to find healthy options, especially at chain

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-7603417607922884152011-01-24T18:41:00.000-05:002011-01-24T18:41:26.263-05:00

Do you have those days? You know...Those days? The ones where your head and heart are wrapped around some family drama, some slight, or minor heartbreak. Hell, maybe it's even a major heartbreak, but certainly not one worthy of consuming you heart, mind, and soul. Yet, there you go, deep in the spiral of fear, worry, anxiety, anger, frustration, and utter annoyance. And then when you least

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-34165474560332691652011-01-17T00:25:00.000-05:002011-01-17T00:25:49.077-05:00

Six months before his death in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to a group of junior high school students in Philadelphia, urging them to stay in school, encouraging them to see their own brilliance, humanity, and integrity.  Here's a bit of what he told them:  Number one in your life's blueprint, should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth and your own somebodiness. Don't

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-53202487267881541062011-01-05T14:22:00.000-05:002011-01-05T14:22:03.391-05:00

Happy 2011 Y'all! Five days in, it hardly seems right to say "Happy New Year," the way the years fly by now! I wrote a curmudgeonly post a few days ago all about how I had no hope for the new year. (I chose note to post it.) Surprising since the final days of 2010 weren't bad at all. My mother-in-law had our boys for a few days and Scott and I partied like rock stars, going out every night until

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-16501475298119125992010-12-13T12:50:00.000-05:002010-12-13T12:50:18.793-05:00

Hey, Y'all! Merry Christmas! Check out the giveaway on my review blog, Belle of the Blog Reviews. The cute little Husky Powertek 13-piece screwdriver makes a great stocking stuffer! I hope you'll enter, share the details with others, and come back often! Good luck!

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-81126930244624938082010-12-11T12:00:00.000-05:002010-12-11T12:00:40.761-05:00

Hey, Y'all! On Monday, I'm going to be hosting a contest on my review blog, Belle of the Blog Reviews. The prize will make a great stocking stuffer or nice Dirty Santa gift. So you know what to expect, here's how you'll be able to qualify once I open the contest. 1. In the comments for the contest post, tell me your funniest home improvement fiasco story. And it can totally be at the expense

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-87562319077685313222010-12-10T18:08:00.000-05:002010-12-10T18:08:26.426-05:00

The Elves have arrived! These didn't travel from Middle Earth. More like the top of the Earth. Sent down with instructions to keep children in line and report back to the chubby guy in the red suit. These darling little fellows can convert the naughtiest of children in this four week period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our elves arrived the night before Thanksgiving and have been wreaking

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-70872432196962610042010-11-23T20:21:00.000-05:002010-11-23T20:21:39.899-05:00

All this week National Public Radio has been doing a series on siblings and sibling relationships. I've really enjoyed listening to these segments. As an only child, I often find myself baffled by the interactions of siblings, especially my own two sons. And I'm fascinated by birth order. Am I more like a baby or a first-born seeing as how I am both? And what about twins and the siblings of twins

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-14751610518299746402010-11-21T19:56:00.002-05:002010-11-22T11:13:12.153-05:00

That's right, Shawties! It's that time of year again. The one where there's never enough time or money. When all your crazy relatives set your teeth on edge and make you wish you could hole up somewhere until the whole affair is over. The one where you say, "Next year, I'll do things differently." That's right. It's Christmastime. Now you should know going into this that I love Christmas. Flat

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-91039597223745724272010-11-14T10:54:00.000-05:002010-11-14T10:54:26.781-05:00

As anyone who might still be reading my blog since I haven't posted in months may have noticed, I've been writing a lot about food. Tweeting about it as well. Being that I never intended this as a food blog, it seems a might strange. In actuality, I'm just getting back to the roots of who I am. This journey of parenting made me lose myself in a lot of ways for a long, long time. It has changed

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-17300015783665523432010-10-08T09:56:00.000-04:002010-10-08T09:56:37.624-04:00

I've always loved food. I've loved to cook for as long as I can remember. To this day, I remember the first meal I cooked all by myself. Swiss steak. I got the recipe out of a magazine at the hospital. I was nine and determined to take over the cooking duties when my grandmother came home from the hospital. She was 79 and had just had a heart attack. So, I learned by trial and error. That first

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-31538828964384748762010-08-11T17:35:00.000-04:002010-08-11T17:35:36.533-04:00

I feel like all the life has drained out of me. I hate it here. In the suburbs. In this dead zone where there are few people that I feel are real human beings, not pretentious, soulless zombies. I never wanted to live here, but that said, I do love my house. I just wish I could move it to Decatur and live next door to someone really fascinating and cool. I guess part of my sense of isolation

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-9841372034657974892010-08-04T09:18:00.001-04:002010-08-04T09:25:12.630-04:00

Crystal, the terrific blogger over at We Aren't Perfect, has devoted the month of August to Postpartum Depression awareness.  Each day her blog will feature a Postpartum Confession by a guest blogger writing on the topic of PPD.I am today's featured blogger. You can see my post here.If you or someone you love is or has been or may one day be touched by postpartum depression, I encourage you to

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-53598371257926786782010-07-27T08:40:00.002-04:002010-08-04T08:40:05.327-04:00

I try to count my blessings daily. Recently I told Scott that you know you are truly blessed when you're operating at a level where you're dealing with what I call high-level problems. You know.... When you have the luxury of worrying about the fact that your son hates reading because you know you have a roof over your head and healthy food on your table every night. And trust me...I am thankful

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-84639122047769030642010-07-19T17:32:00.000-04:002010-07-19T17:32:47.468-04:00

Those of you who have read my blog for a while might remember my own experience with PPD. After my son Beckett was born, I had a really rough time. After months of feeling like I was the worst mother and wife in the world, feeling unloved, terrified, anxious, and sometimes as if I would literally burst free of my own skin, I ended up very ill physically. My kind and loving mother-in-law convinced

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-64325319342983628402010-07-15T17:11:00.000-04:002010-07-15T17:11:07.136-04:00

Some parents are blessed with kids who love to read. Some of us are not so fortunate. I never imagined it would be possible for me to produce a child who didn't love to read. I was reading on a fourth grade level when I was in Kindergarten, requiring my mom to meet with the principal, my teacher, and the school librarian to obtain permission for me to check out actual books from the library. My

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-81483930566103852022010-07-07T11:08:00.002-04:002010-07-07T13:21:06.049-04:00

Wednesday has quickly become my favorite day of the week. And not merely because reaching Wednesday means we're halfway to the weekend. Nope. I love Wednesday because that's the day I get my box of fresh organic produce from the Riverview Farms CSA program.  It's so thrilling to know I'm supporting a local farm and farm family while doing something good for the Earth. Better than that is getting

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-19767051446183570402010-06-25T07:48:00.003-04:002010-06-25T07:53:18.003-04:00

I love this time of day, but rarely get to enjoy it. The only person awake in the house, with the sunrise peeking over roof and tree tops.Birdsong and the chirrups of chipmunks the only sounds other than the hum a light or fan somewhere in the darkened house.Only now is my solitude and peace broken by the sound of a bedroom door opening.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-44154435290633363442010-06-24T10:52:00.001-04:002010-06-25T06:51:57.843-04:00

Sometimes the love my sons show for one another shames me. They have such an amazing bond with one another, despite the normal sibling rivalry they also have. If one of them is hurt or sad, often before I can make a move to comfort, the other brother is there, holding a hand, asking what's wrong, and trying to make his brother feel better. They constantly say "I love you" to one another, share

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-54299585872433509002010-06-23T17:01:00.000-04:002010-06-23T17:01:59.209-04:00

I've spent the last two days working on articles for clients, one a magazine article for a newcomer's/relocation magazine, the other a friend's business that helps facilities streamline their recycling and sustainability efforts. I wrote on two very distinct and different topics, learned a lot about both, and had a ball doing it. Mind you, I've been doing research for the article on my friend's

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-11680578986907255542010-06-07T12:20:00.000-04:002010-06-07T12:20:44.922-04:00

Feel free to check out this offer over on my new blog, Belle of the Blog Reviews. It's a good deal.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-44135840568920126872010-06-06T09:57:00.000-04:002010-06-06T09:57:04.813-04:00

Per BlogHer's guidelines for their bloggers writing product reviews and sharing opinions about products or vendors (potential advertisers), I am launching my own review site as a companion to Belle of the Blog. It is called Belle of the Blog Reviews, because I like to KISS. For now I'm going to leave my older product reviews on this site, but eventually when I have a little more free time (Yeah

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-75254580684878615122010-06-04T21:15:00.001-04:002010-06-04T21:24:12.852-04:00

Back in January, right after I turned 40 (BTW, You probably shouldn't know this, but I'll tell you anyway... Everytime I say that, I throw up in my mouth a little...), I decided it was time to get serious about getting fit. I had been doing the Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred, but decided I needed to step it up. I loved that workout and I was seeing great results, but I needed someone, other than

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-55437766464438833612010-05-29T11:58:00.003-04:002010-05-29T12:09:43.094-04:00

I've been reading a lot lately about raising one's vibration in order to attract more of the things you want in life. For instance, if you raise your level to feel peaceful and happy more often, you'll find more of the things that make you feel peaceful and happy in life. Life is full of mysteries and knowing that at an atomic/subatomic level there's a lot we don't fully understand, I am happy to

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-75715006874964945532010-05-28T18:27:00.004-04:002010-05-28T18:56:22.312-04:00

A Facebook friend, a woman with whom I attended college, started a Facebook group called, "Everyday I Wake Up Happy No Matter What."I overcame my fear of joining such a group and dove in. Whether it's true at this moment or not, I want it to be. Because I'll be damned if Life isn't pretty good. No, it's not perfect. Yet. And it never will be. It's just a journey, with bumps and broken bridges,

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-60015792761494546562010-05-03T12:18:00.003-04:002010-05-03T12:25:22.253-04:00

A big storm blew into Atlanta yesterday. Nothing, of course, compared to the gullywasher that hit Nashville over the weekend. I've been worried for my friends and family (even the cousin who isn't speaking to me and her kids), but it seems that, for the most part, my closest friends are safe and didn't have much damage. The storm here kept our 13-year old shepherd mix, Cooper, awake from 1 a.m.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-86441849765742829882010-05-01T12:31:00.004-04:002010-05-01T12:51:25.639-04:00

I've got a lot on my mind today, but nothing I really feel like writing about in depth.I'm worried about the oil spill. My best friend is from Louisiana. One of my other best friends is from Mobile. As a result, I think a lot about those places and worry when tragedy strikes. Of course, I'd worry about this just as a citizen of the Earth. I have absolutely nothing profound to say on the subject.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-17618057883149195022010-04-29T09:10:00.003-04:002010-04-29T09:34:05.413-04:00

Looking for a reminder of how big and full of love the human heart can be?Then, run, don't walk, to check out zefrank.com and in particular this post and song.Listen to the song and then, please, please read the accompanying story of how the song came about.My favorite part? Well, there are two really. But I won't spoil it for you by telling you because I want you to have the same goosebump

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-78913120276058287912010-04-28T12:51:00.002-04:002010-04-28T16:27:34.368-04:00

Doña Leova positively vibrates with grandmotherly otherworldly love and wisdom. As wise and ancient as she clearly is, there's something else...Her kind brown eyes dance and twinkle with the laughter of a mischievous young girl who has a secret she can't wait to share.I am surprised and a little delighted when she looks at me with her laughing, knowing eyes as I sit in the folding chair just to

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-61185548467785377292010-04-26T13:08:00.003-04:002010-04-26T16:14:26.579-04:00

Returning from a hiatus as long as the one I've taken from this blog is difficult. There's much I want to say and more that I don't care to mention. And so it is.I choose to move forward without looking back, steadily moving into my future and all the blessings it holds.For years I have feared certain aspects of myself. I live my life, much of the time, as if I am two people. Conservative

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-57679271912639022722010-02-27T17:07:00.001-05:002011-02-27T17:19:41.343-05:00

Jacquinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-35046015982717906482010-02-27T16:12:00.000-05:002011-02-27T16:13:55.189-05:00

Jacquinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-11328290778531193092010-02-20T09:34:00.003-05:002010-02-20T09:52:33.140-05:00

All I wanted today was to go to yoga class. That's all. To have from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. just for me, my body, and my mental health.That didn't happen because I woke up at 5 a.m. with a head cold and found Scott awake. He had to wake up at 3 a.m. and handle some work problem and then couldn't get back to sleep. So, we talked until about 6:30 or 7 a.m. and then both tried to go back to sleep.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-24082147132213337372010-02-18T18:39:00.006-05:002010-02-18T19:44:08.710-05:00

You just can't get rid of me, can you?I haven't had a chance to write in weeks. Travel. School. Birthday parties. Various and sundry activities. My own bad mood. It has all conspired to keep me away. But I'm back. And I thought I'd ease back into ye olde blogging routine by sharing some photos and the details of Brendan's 7th Birthday Jedi Bash. It was, in my opinion, the best birthday party I've

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-18259741634003480692010-01-26T10:35:00.007-05:002010-01-27T18:34:10.925-05:00

I wonder if it's inevitable to grow cynical.You reach a certain point in your life and you've seen it all. People behaving badly? What else is new?The last couple of weeks I've found myself looking at some specific and disparate situations and wondering what the hell is wrong with people? First is the situaiton with Leno and Conan. I don't know what NBC was thinking, other than money, money,

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-60131665848280707492010-01-22T11:43:00.006-05:002010-01-22T17:38:08.909-05:00

The months and weeks that led up to my fortieth birthday were packed with my mixed emotions and thoughts that varied from the obvious "I'm getting old" to the trite "You're only as old as you think you are." Neither of which provided much inspiration or comfort as I enter this new and exciting decade of life.Scott has continued to struggle with all that he has been going through. My efforts to

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-82892152111243157432010-01-07T21:53:00.004-05:002010-01-07T22:43:27.709-05:00

2010 is not beginning the way anyone would want their year to start. For my community, the beginning of this year has been marked by pain and loss, sorrow and confusion.On Monday we learned that a family from our neighborhood was missing. On Tuesday, we learned that the two children, a boy and girl in third and second grades, were in Virginia with relatives. Their father had dropped them off on

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-58884176731476503022009-12-17T10:38:00.001-05:002009-12-18T12:02:04.292-05:00

Finding the right toys for your child's Christmas or holiday gift or even their birthday can be a challenge. With most kids there's so much they want, but usually only so much you can afford. If your child has Dyspraxia or another developmental condition, you probably find yourself needing to purchase toys that can help with your child's fine motor and vestibular development in addition to the

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-53845967623181883382009-12-09T18:52:00.009-05:002009-12-10T18:02:11.692-05:00

"Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You!" we sang."Me?" Beckett squealed delightedly as we sang, 15 or so smiling faces showering him with love and affection. He genuinely sounded surprised and delighted, his James cake that I baked and decorated just for him, sitting before him.It is that sweetness, that sense of wonder and delight and joy in everything he does that makes my sweet Beckett

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-56513105153924770202009-12-03T08:30:00.004-05:002009-12-03T09:44:24.838-05:00

To celebrate and promote the premiere of Dora's Christmas Carol, Nickelodeon has invited Twitter Moms to share some of their favorite holiday activities and traditions they share with their kids. When it comes to the holidays, I'm just a big old sentimental softie. I bet y'all wouldn't have guessed the obvious, huh? I love traditions and I love making new traditions with my husband and sons. I

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-50169073083554463542009-11-19T19:02:00.016-05:002009-11-22T08:58:12.538-05:00

"Mom," the conversation began, as oh so many do these days. I can tell from the tone of Brendan's voice that he has something important to tell me.Usually when a conversation begins this way, it involves the newest cool trick he has learned in Lego Star Wars for the Wii or some super-awesome-fantastically amazing-so-great-it-must-be-bought-today Star Wars toy.But not this time.Now, let's pause

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-88710609834462999432009-11-18T13:31:00.004-05:002009-11-18T13:50:59.295-05:00

In the span of less than 24 hours I've heard two horrible, heartbreaking stories that make me want to squeeze my husband and babies and hold them and not let them out of my sight.First, last night I read about a fellow blogger and Twitter Mom, Anissa Mayhew, who had a massive stroke yesterday afternoon. Anissa is a very popular blogger and has three children. Her youngest, daughter Peyton, just

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-89266098562183491292009-11-12T12:56:00.004-05:002009-11-12T13:05:57.542-05:00

I thought I'd share this news I just got from Warren Fried at Dyspraxia USA:DOCUMENTARY ON LDS seeking people in US interested in participatingWHAT MAKES YOUR CHILD EXCEPTIONAL?Major cable television documentary on learning differences seeks CHILDREN 7-14 YEARS OLD who have found a talent, strength or interest that is a source of self-esteem and pride. We are looking for EXPRESSIVE young people

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-71289829710298071722009-11-10T13:58:00.002-05:002009-11-10T14:18:56.018-05:00

What a long month it's been and we're only 10 days or so into it. Last week was spent with two boys and a husband all with the stomach flu. It started on Halloween night and didn't end until sometime early this past Sunday morning. So far I haven't gotten it, but did have alternating chills and hot spells with nausea on Saturday night while caring for a still vomiting six-year old.Earlier that

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-43075294349744138032009-11-10T08:48:00.001-05:002009-11-10T08:51:13.906-05:00

We're mostly out of the stroller phase, except on long walks where the jogging stroller still has a role to play, but a friend sent me this and I figure I can help spread the word because I know some of my readers still use strollers.NEWS from CPSCU.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionOffice of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 9, 2009Release # 10-

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-18515387807316102302009-11-03T08:52:00.003-05:002009-11-05T09:22:20.122-05:00

Warren Fried, founder of Dyspraxia USA, sent me this advice column from the Washington Post's Parenting Advice columnist, Marguerite Kelly.As the mother of a Dyspraxic child, I know all about the frustration and anger these children feel. I am also well familiar with the mirroring instinct in kids. That's a phenomenon common to all kids, though, not just Dyspraxics. The mother who asked for

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-4564411918717779762009-10-26T09:09:00.003-04:002009-10-26T10:18:46.385-04:00

Yesterday, I promised via Twitter that I'd post the recipe for the Apple Upside Down Cake I took to a party for Beckett's playgroup. I also took a very simple appetizer that will amaze you with it's ease and deliciousness.So, without further ado, here's the recipe...Oh! Wait! There actually is further ado. I should note, that the recipe does not call for pecans. At all. But, I decided to add

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-72335840050724833652009-10-23T08:25:00.004-04:002009-10-23T09:43:16.717-04:00

Was reminded this week of a great fall recipe I haven't made in a while. It's also a favorite of mine to make for friends who've just had a baby or have a sickness in the family and need a hand. You can also make ahead and freeze to pull out in a pinch. And I've included a new favorite side dish that goes great with it: Grape tomato and Avocado Salad.Chili Casserole with Cornbread Topping:1 lb.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-74142321722699084052009-10-19T08:55:00.004-04:002009-10-19T11:05:57.608-04:00

Generally speaking, I think Scott and I do a pretty great job parenting our two sons. We are loving, supportive, encouraging, provide structure and discipline to their lives. Every now and then, however, we have our moments when we go slightly off the range and our words or actions in relation to the boys might be called into question.Sometimes, thanks to my short fuse, I think I'm just one

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-28293966248898771812009-10-16T17:16:00.004-04:002009-10-16T17:21:17.780-04:00

I am shocked and appalled by this story. I have personally experienced the ineptitudes of the TSA at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, but this woman's experience goes beyond ineptitude into sheer stupidity and exposes the TSA as the actual terrorists. I cannot imagine what she went through. I got shaky and cried just reading about it.I truly hope the national media picks this up and something

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-57198547419290347522009-10-15T17:52:00.003-04:002009-10-15T18:10:11.089-04:00

The last few weeks have been very challenging, filled with ups and downs and all-arounds. The one thing that I can say has consistently kept me thankful and sane and happy much of the time is knowing that I have girlfriends (and a guy friend here and there) that I can count on. The guys I don't really count on and they're not the same kind of friends as my girls. They're mostly just high school

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-27870051046974442382009-10-13T18:19:00.004-04:002009-10-13T18:36:56.234-04:00

We just returned from Brendan's speech therapy at Scottish Rite. He's now getting help with speech at school and through our insurance and it seems like he's improving even more rapidly than I would have hoped. Still, no one takes me seriously when I mention that he stammers. It might be that he only does it with me. But if so, why? He should be the most comfortable talking to his mom.I don't

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-64744355685344957312009-10-12T15:30:00.003-04:002009-10-12T15:32:21.548-04:00

I'd love to have your feedback on the new look of the blog. What do y'all think?I've putzed around way too long on this to want to undo it, but I would like to hear your thoughts. It just felt like it was time for a change.So, let's hear it....

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-60889557790667972652009-10-11T12:43:00.002-04:002009-10-11T12:56:54.174-04:00

Wednesday was my honey's birthday so I made his favorite cake. This recipe is the same one Scott's grandfather used to make when Scott was a boy. His mother gave it to me and I'm going to share it with y'all because this is the most amazing cake in the world and it deserves to be eaten and celebrated:Hummingbird CakeIngredients:3 cups all-purpose flour2 cups granulated sugar1/2 teaspoon salt2

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-53527608736954855442009-10-10T13:43:00.006-04:002009-10-10T14:56:31.860-04:00

You're getting a doubleheader today, folks. Two blog posts! Woot!You'd think I'd save them up and spread them out, but why would I want to be so organized when I can write and deliver in such a willy-nilly fashion as I do? So, as I type, Scott is on the phone right now with his mom. Both boys are at his mom's this weekend and he called to check on them. Apparently, they're having fun. Brendan got

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-2650677914821319022009-10-09T15:32:00.002-04:002009-10-12T10:14:49.888-04:00

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-76487518491291047772009-10-08T09:13:00.003-04:002009-10-08T09:25:44.777-04:00

It's a sunny day in the ATL and there is hope in my heart.My cuddly two-year old Beckett is sitting in my lap while I type telling me all the colors on the birthday candle that came off his daddy's birthday cake. We're about to go to our playdate with his best friend, Cooke and one of my best friends, Lucy. I have a press release to get out today, and phone calls to make. I am looking forward to

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-39189887832663692792009-09-22T17:59:00.003-04:002009-09-22T21:12:42.185-04:00

Dear Mom,Wherever you are out there in the Cosmos, I want you to know something.I'm sorry.For twenty odd years or maybe longer, I've been carrying around what amounts to a whole set of deluxe Samsonite, packed tight with my anger and hurt toward you over all the ways I felt that you let me down. I'll spare you the whole inventory, though I suspect in the spirit world, assuming there is one and

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-16151420631251981082009-09-03T18:28:00.003-04:002009-09-07T22:18:28.877-04:00

I'm just so discouraged by the political dialogue in this country.How sad is it that the President of the United States can't give a simple speech to our kids encouraging them to stay in school, do their best, and act obediently toward their parents and teachers without members of the opposing party going all apoplectic?I just fail to see how this is cause for alarm. There's nothing remotely

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-24100676908241518622009-08-31T10:41:00.003-04:002009-08-31T12:29:43.108-04:00

When I began the potty-training process with Brendan, when he was two-and-a-half, (the age, mind you, that had been recommended by all the books I'd read, our pediatrician, and my mother-in-law), I was confident that my smart little boy would be potty-trained in no time flat. I believed that I could and would be consistent in our efforts. I had read a variety of methods and decided on the one I

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-63701160646426729542009-08-26T12:27:00.008-04:002009-08-28T17:24:27.360-04:00

By not blogging last week, I'm off schedule on doing my Back to School Recipe Reviews that I promised, so today, you're going to hear about three different recipes I tried before I forget them myself.First, I made Wendy's Chili* for lunch last Saturday while the kids were at their grandparents. The only thing I altered was that I made it without meat, just a purely vegetarian version. It was

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-34548346031500344812009-08-25T06:39:00.005-04:002009-08-26T08:52:21.339-04:00

This isn't the post I thought I'd be writing today, but it is the one in my heart. The one I need to write. Thirteen years ago this month, Scott, who was my boyfriend at the time, called me up and told me he had a surprise for me.I could not imagine what it might be. We had been dating about seven months at the time. The 1996 Summer Olympics had just ended, so it wasn't tickets to an Olympic

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-32873920438988228572009-08-17T07:50:00.005-04:002009-08-17T09:56:44.212-04:00

I just watched this video by the band Fisher, who Scott and I discovered way, way, way back in the past when music by indie bands on the Internet was a groundbreaking phenomenon. The song and the video are just so joyful they have helped make my Monday. I had to share it because it feels like an extension or perhaps rather an expression of the golden ball of Happy that I felt in my heart and soul

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-11601328770560958122009-08-12T10:40:00.002-04:002009-08-12T10:51:56.586-04:00

I have gotten some excellent comments and recipe ideas so far and will be giving them all a whirl. Thanks to everyone who has given me their ideas so far. I can't wait to try Wendy's chili and some of Suz's vegetarian ideas. In the meantime, I'll give you the recipe for the main dish I made last night, Oven Fried Drumsticks. I liked them, but they weren't as huge a hit as I had hoped. Brendan

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-41429091761840199522009-08-10T20:28:00.002-04:002009-08-10T21:29:27.225-04:00

School days mean we're crunched for time at both ends of the day. I told Scott this morning that we seem to have a black hole in our house that sucks up any amount of extra time. So, I need to find some ways to save time. Specifically, I am looking for quick, easy, healthy dinner ideas.If you send me your favorite quick and tasty dinner ideas I will post them on my blog, complete with a review of

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-81346743019790157632009-08-06T06:20:00.001-04:002009-08-06T06:24:10.749-04:00

Here's a link to the press release I sent out yesterday on behalf of Dyspraxia USA:Press Release

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-24137061412780386752009-08-05T16:15:00.003-04:002009-08-05T16:19:03.033-04:00

Thanks to State Senator Curt Thompson for this update:Congressman Johnson to Host Health Care Reform Town HallCongressman Hank Johnson of Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, proudly serving DeKalb, Rockdale, and Gwinnett Counties cordially invites you to his 2009 Health Care Reform Town Hall.The event is scheduled for Monday, August 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Georgia Perimeter College

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-58942689392533625912009-08-05T07:07:00.004-04:002009-08-05T07:17:50.185-04:00

Today is a Day of Remembrance and Healing at the National Shrine of St. Jude for all those affected by cancer.The Claretian Order who run the shrine are there praying to St. Jude for intercession on behalf of everyone suffering with cancer, their friends, and their families.Here is a message I received from Fr. Mark Brummel, Director of the Shrine of St. Jude:May the Lord bless you and keep you

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-15161679379192585512009-08-04T15:45:00.000-04:002009-08-04T15:46:29.844-04:00

Beginning a new school year can be very exciting for most children and their families. New school supplies. New clothes. New friendships. New teachers. There’s a lot to look forward to.For children with Developmental Dyspraxia or other Sensory Processing Disorders (Sensory Integration Disorders) and their families, back-to-school time can hold an entirely different set of thoughts and emotions.

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-23210619699927192182009-08-02T21:31:00.006-04:002009-08-03T16:42:14.870-04:00

I saw the movie Little Children early Saturday morning. For some reason, I was awake at 5:30 a.m. when it came on and I got caught up in it. Let me preface the rest of this post by letting you know there may be spoilers in here, so if you plan to see the film, you may want to stop here. Scott had seen it before and liked it. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it. With the primary focus of the film

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-91429002427674622252009-08-01T10:34:00.003-04:002009-08-01T10:45:01.833-04:00

It's Museums On Us weekend!If you're a Bank of America cardholder (credit or debit), you can get into select museums in a variety of cities for free the first full weekend of every month! Here's the list of participating museums in Atlanta:The Atlanta History Center;Fernbank Museum of Natural HistoryAtlanta Botanical Garden;Millennium Gate;Zoo Atlanta;High Museum of ArtTo find out which museums

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-81814098178765664232009-07-31T10:58:00.001-04:002009-07-31T11:01:13.129-04:00

And now, for some Friday fun...Jill And Kevin's Unexpected Wedding Entrance - Watch more Breaks Biggest WinnersFollowed by this parody:JK Unexpected Divorce Hearing Entrance - Watch more Funny Videos

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-85943663809563622312009-07-31T08:29:00.002-04:002009-07-31T08:35:10.396-04:00

Congratulations to Cranky Mommy who is the winner of the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shape Set. From reading her post announcing the contest, I see that she's beginning to home school both her oldest and youngest children, so I know she'll get a lot of use out of this!Thanks to both of you gals who entered for sharing news about the contest on your site and via Twitter! And if you're curious as

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-83471540835370789412009-07-29T14:09:00.002-04:002009-07-29T14:18:32.570-04:00

Time is running out to enter to win the Melissa & Doug Lace 'n Trace Shape Set.It's a great gift for a developing toddler or an older child who has fine motor difficulty. Follow this link to read about the contest and enter. You'll see there are multiple ways you can win!

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-29782214034385005522009-07-27T11:19:00.004-04:002009-07-27T11:28:42.431-04:00

I just learned about a baby and a family that needs our prayers right now. I've linked to the mom's blog where you can read about what is going on. But please keep little Stellan and his family in your prayers right now.If you're Catholic, or believe in intercessory prayer, you might want to say this prayer to St. Jude, patron of the hopeless:Prayer to St. Jude for our Child who is SickSt. Jude,

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-89619967254014773872009-07-27T10:38:00.002-04:002009-07-27T11:07:45.494-04:00

Not only has summer flown by, but it has brought a host of changes.Both my boys grow and change and become increasingly more...human every minute of every day. Right before my very eyes.In the span of a month, Brendan has lost his first two teeth; teeth that seem as if they came in yesterday as I massaged his tender gums with cooling gel and froze binkies for him to suck on. Beckett has gone from

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-64164808491944452912009-07-23T16:03:00.009-04:002009-07-23T17:08:02.935-04:00

When Brendan began occupational therapy last fall, one of his favorite activities recommended by his occupational therapist was working with lace-up boards to help improve the muscular control in his hands. Well, today, I have the chance to give one lucky winner a set of Melissa and Doug Lace 'n Trace Shapes. They're a great developmental toy for little hands craving opportunities to develop fine

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-18633187200532075592009-07-22T12:06:00.005-04:002009-07-22T12:34:28.160-04:00

I'm battling a sinus infection and bronchitis. Right now, despite my best efforts to stay positive, I think the sickness is winning.Of course, Big Bad Bronchitis has had help kicking my butt from the prescription cough medicine my doctor prescribed for me. It's called Tussionex. It is, apparently, the only liquid cough medicine currently on the market because the FDA, in its infinite wisdom,

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549196.post-14667940103340628792009-07-21T08:23:00.002-04:002009-07-21T09:25:14.807-04:00

I'm no expert on healthcare reform. But, I do have the common sense and awareness of what goes on around me to know that our current system is broken. Just like our educational system. But that's another blog post for another day.My family is lucky to have insurance paid for by my husband's employer. I know that not everyone is so fortunate and I wonder what the cost of that is ultimately to our

Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994053521689652049noreply@blogger.com5