We're Back

It suddenly dawned on me how much information and record keeping of my children that I've kept on here. I revert back to this site like a baby book. I haven't chronicled things in AGES. Whole years of barely keeping record. Poor Zofia! I'm not going to have the reference book for her that I do for Athena!

Well this stops NOW. Spring is springing and it's time for us to start living life in the world again. Today, Louis is at work... AHgain... and Athena is at a playdate. It's just me and Z like usual, sitting on the couch hugging, snacking, and watching a Barbie movie. Let's have our first post be all about her :)


Zofia's 3.5 Year Questionnaire

1. What does mommy call you? Lover, Chicken, Chickybooms.
2. How old are you? Almost 4. (You're still 3.) Whatever, I'm 3.
3. What is your favorite color? (Looks at Skittles) Purple
4. What is your favorite animal? Kitties
5. What is your favorite show? Breadwinners
6. What is your favorite movie? Barbie Princess and the Popstar
7. Who is your best friend? Athena
8. Where is your favorite place to go? The store.
9. What is your favorite restaurant? Applebee's
10. What is your favorite toy? Her stuffed kitties.


Her favorite thing to do? Well, it's still this:

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22.

Coming off the heels of my 33rd birthday and breathing down the neck of my 10 year wedding anniversary, I'm feeling nostalgic.

My 22nd birthday. I'm a baby!


(Those are bar bathroom condoms that were gifted to me.)
Also note the adorned left hand. I was also given a ring.

Spaced out, cold having, ring giver:

(Also a baby.)

Cold medicine kicked in:

Adorable. I loved him then but it's even better now.

Happy Throwback Thursday. Have some good memories with me!

It's like Pride Week for Zofia and me!

Happy World Breastfeeding Week to Zofia and me!

See how excited we are? Any chance Zofia gets to celebrate boobies, she takes it and RUNS with it... usually still with my nipple in her mouth. This is our 4th WBW together and she's not seeming to lose any steam. In fact, this Saturday marks the first time she will ever go to bed without me or my boobies. She's spending the night with her Yia Yia and I'm having a night alone with my husband. This is a HUGE milestone in our breastfeeding relationship. Wish us luck! I think I'll need it more than her.

The focus is to share with people the benefits of nursing, showcase the people that are out there to help with a breastfeeding journey, and to encourage people to support breastfeeding mothers. I made a joke about Zofia getting me a present to celebrate, but in all honesty, the gifts she's giving me are plentiful. Our relationship certainly isn't the norm in the USA but there are so many benefits to BOTH of us in the extended nursing relationship Kellymom.com says:

Breastfeeding benefits toddlers and young children…nutritionally, immunologically and psychologically.

• Breastfeeding contributes to your child’s NUTRITION

• Breastfeeding contributes to your child’s HEALTH

• Breastfeeding contributes to your child’s INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

• Breastfeeding contributes to your child’s SOCIAL and MENTAL DEVELOPMENT

• Breastfeeding your child past infancy is NORMAL

• MOTHERS also benefit from breastfeeding for a longer duration

If you see a nervous mama nursing in public or have a special person in your life who is currently nursing, give them a high 5 and a little word of encouragement.

We'll be celebrating with boobies:

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Like all good things must, kindergarten has come to an end...

And this mama is a little overwhelmed. My first baby's first year of school has come and gone in the quickest of eye blinks. She's gone from toddler to schoolgirl but OH MUH BAYBEE!! Wears muh baybee??

First day of Kindergarten. It feels like we just got started. Oh how it hurt my mama heart to let her go.

Last day of Kindergarten. It's slightly bittersweet. I'm SO ready to have her back home with me EVERY SINGLE, but it concerns me how quickly the days are going.

Oh my. It IS going to fast. Next Zofia will start school and I'll have no more babies. Excuse me, I need to go breathe into a paper bag...

End of Year/Teacher Appreciation Gifts. What do you buy?

As I mentioned in my fruit-sculpture post yesterday this week is teach appreciation week. I am on the board of Athena's school's PTO and we put on a luncheon for them and gave the teacher lounge a Keurig. The year is almost over so this has me thinking end-of-year thanking as well. This is Athena's very first teacher, she really likes her, and watching my child blossom has been an incredible gift. Since I've never dealt with teachers in this capacity before, what's the protocol on Teacher Appreciation/End of year gifts? What do you do?

End of year/teacher appreciation gifts: Do you buy them and what do you spend?
	Yes! $25+
	Yes, a small gift $5-$10 max.
	A card and flowers/plant.
	A child-made card.
	No gifts.
pollcode.com free polls

(Also accepting gift ideas.)

Fresh Fruit Watermelon "Cake"

Athena's very first year of school is coming to a close and this week is teacher appreciation week for them. These fine people have transformed my baby into a reading, writing, singing big girl STUDENT. She's had the best experience so far and I want them to know the parents are grateful.

The PTO is putting on a luncheon tomorrow with donations from parents and board members. I volunteered to make a fruit salad. But not just ANY fruit salad. I wanted my fruit salad to say "Hey teachers! I took the time to sculpt up this fruit into a cake just for YOU because I appreciate YOU! No bowls of fruit for you!"

So I set out to make the fresh watermelon cake I saw on Pinterest:

The Inspiration from www.lowfatveganchef.com

The ingredients:

A watermelon, any fresh fruit you like, and skewers.

The cut:

According to www.cakechooser.com this is how you cut to get your cake base.

Here's mine:

From there I cut more tiers, placed fruit around them, 

and used skewers of fruit like candles

The result:

I'm happy with my first attempt. I'd like to try again with better knives, more experience, and 

less toddlers pulling my pants down.

It is my kids' fault if I never get Gangnam Style out of my head.

How long has this stupid song been around now? Everyone is past this, the Harlem Shake, and have moved onto something new, no?

Not my children. They watch every freaking version and parody of it DAILY. This particular scene is their absolute favorite:

They do it all the time :/

I don't know which is better... this performance or when they sang Nicki Minaj "Starships" with their garbled "higher than a m****er f****er." Louis and I win at talented kids.

A Terrifying Parenting Lesson Learned

Last night I almost lost Zofia. Typing that sentence, reliving the moment, is making my hands shake to where I can barely type.

We were folding laundry together in the living room like we do every week. She was taking clothes to her and Athena's rooms to put them in their dressers just like she always does. She makes the task take so much longer and their drawers are a disaster, but she loves to help her mama. I was preparing another pile for her to take when I heard s terrifying scream and a thunderous crash. I flew into Athena's room like a woman on fire and I couldn't even see Zofia. Athena's entire dresser and television set had toppled on top of her. She was trapped and screaming. The terror.

Oh, friends.

The terror.

I pushed everything off of her terrified of what I was going to find. By the sheer grace of a power much higher than me she was fine. Shaken, but fine.

I didn't sleep last night. My mind tortured me with all the "coulda beens." What if the TV fell on her head? What if the weight of it all had fallen differently and crushed her body? Why didn't I have it set up more safely? Well, it's because the dresser is so small I never thought about the danger before.

Only three drawers high. Sturdy. Flat on the floor. TV fits perfectly. But none of that matters. The fact is it still fell and nearly crushed my 2 year old daughter. I will never forget this. I will never be careless with furniture and kids and anchor EVERYTHING. I will kiss her every night and thank the Heavens that I still have her.

Others don't. www.meghanshope.org/

Secure your furniture. Spread the word.

Oh, hey! I have a blog! I, like, totally forgot.

I am the guy in red. Zofia and Athena are the guys in black. This is what happens when I sit down to do ANYTHING. I'm SO grateful that I actually have work to do, but DAMN GENA! Get off me for a sec! I'm hoping that Spring's arrival will mean more outside play time and less lap fights. I need to get centered again. I need to stop feeling so irritable all the time. I need... I need... I need a lot of things right now that I'm not getting right now. I'm going to work on that.

If I write a sponsored tweet...

I hope you will forgive me. I know these personal blogs are meant to be safe places to write, create, and connect, not to sell you something. Mine has been an outlet I never would have dreamed. I've been able to document every moment of a new life starting with my ladies. It'll be amazing to show them everything some day.

Speaking of outlets...

BlogHer has been an INCREDIBLE platform to jump beyond myself. They gave me a voice so much louder than I could have created for myself when talking about sexual abuse and mental disorders. I think a lot of that site and those fine women behind the scenes. Anything I can do to help their brand I will.

Everything that I share will be things that I like and/or believe in, so I promise I'm not a TOTAL sell out. Plus, I'm a WAHM who needs a little help sometimes. SO I hope you guys understand and check out some of the things I share.

Thanks bunches, my lovelies :)

Here's a kitten gif:

I want to blog.

I want to blog about Betty and Athena's first funeral/burial experience, but I'm too sad.

I want to blog about my doggy's passing and how well Athena is coping... but I'm too sad.

I want to blog about my new hair color and new hair pieces, but I'm afraid everyone is sick of hearing about my hairloss and problems.

I could tell you about my $4,000 dental procedures, but who wants to hear about that?

I've been waiting and waiting for March to come because that signals Spring for me, but March 2013 has been a real dick.

For the time-being I'll look for cat photobombs and hold out some hope for impending Spring Break with Athena.

Sweet Deal. New Skin

I've been lamenting quite a bit about aging lately. My skin is going BONKERS and my forehead looks like a pack of hotdogs. DONE! ENOUGH! WHERE'S THE BOTOX? I don't know if it's my new hormone replacement therapy or what, but my skin is going cray. I want to find a good line eraser and maybe a retexture peel.

Ask an ye shall receive, amirite?

Buy a discounted kit and get a peel for free? Sold.

If you want to look around it's at www.YourAvon.com/NBrocus under the "Shop Brochure" section. New skin is a mere weeks away!

Hmmmm.... maybe I need a primer now too...

Great Great Aunt Betty

Ah, Miss Elizabeth Archer, you were quite the firecracker. You took charge of your own education, built your own wealth, never married, and never had kids but managed to mother so many of us at one time or another. My mom labored with me on your couch and it was just the beginning of many memories I would build with you. You and your sister (my grandma) were the original thrifters and showed us all how it was done. I still can't pass an estate sale without squealing with delight and thinking about you and Grandma Ruth.

After I became an adult it was time for ME to labor on that exact same couch with Miss Athena Elizabeth and she was named just for you. She thought it was the coolest that not only were you Great Aunt Betty, you were Great GREAT Aunt Betty. That is quite a title. Not to be outdone, Zofia decided to be born directly on your birthday (pictured above.) Zofia. The perpetual one-upper.

I'm so happy for how peaceful everything was for you. You were comfortable and doted on by the rest of the women that make this family great. I hope you're having the best time ever back with your sister thrifting in the Great Beyond.

We love you, Betty. All I ask is that you continue to shine over our sweet babies.

Help my little cheerleader, would ya? Pretty Please?

We ALL know school funding bites all across the board. People are frantically trying everything they can to keep music, art, and sports in schools. To do her part, my little Cheerleader is selling Little Caesers Pizza Kits.

Even Salad Kits!




There really is something for everyone, so if you'd like to take a look at www.PizzaKit.com and tell me what you like. If you get back to me here or via email I'll ship it or drop it off and her school will ear $7 per kit. If you shop the site use code #261038 and her school gets $5 per kit.

Athena loves fundraising and understands how it helps so I always back her up.

Thanks for looking everyone!

It's MARCH emmer-effers!

If people can declare September 1st Fall, I can declare March 1st Spring.

SPRING IS A'COMIN'!!

Twerk it out!

Girl Talk - Makeup: What foundation do you use?

Don't tell anyone but I'm 32 now and my skin has changed a little bit. I think I need a new foundation and concealer. I used Christian Dior Diorskin Fluide for 5 years and it makes your skin look like that of a celebrity. So dewy and flawless.

Sephora Says:

Dior’s unique understanding of couture brings the idea of customized luxury to the world of foundation with this smart formula that adapts to your unique skin type and adjusts accordingly throughout the day for an ultra-smooth, flawless complexion. Infused with the skin-shaping Skincare Essence, this formula melts weightlessly into the skin while hydrating and mattifying elements keep skin balanced, smooth, and healthy. Skin texture is instantly refined and imperfections concealed.

But you guys. It's $47.50. That's like 5 bottles of Gato Negro Chilean wine.

I've been using Avon's Mineral Foundation

 It's certainly not a bad foundation. It has great coverage and color and it's only $7.99, but no dewy, bright finish like that of my youth.

Here's what I'm thinking about trying:

MagiX Cashmere Advanced Liquid Foundation $8.99

Avon says:

"The cashmere-soft feel you love…now with new skin brightening benefits. Advanced new formula gives skin an instant radiance. 70% of women saw more radiant, younger-looking skin. After 4 weeks of use, spots and discolorations appeared diminished."

 What do YOU use and WHY?

What sleeping with Zofia is like.

It's the dead of winter and girlfriend has developed a raging case of spider fear. Why? I have no idea. She keeps waking up in the middle of the night yelling, "I don't want it! No spiders! No spiders, Mommy!" And the she shoves me and slaps the pillows. It's pretty much like this:




I have all these awesome posts in my head while I'm laying down. I'm a daggone literary genius while I lay in bed and nurse Zofia, then I forget it when it comes time to sit here on my blog. That must be the difference between the successful bloggers and me. When they have good ideas they write them down. When I do I lay on a hippie floor bed with a child who is MUCH to large to be nursing.

Duty calls.

Happy Freaking Valentine's Day

I am a Valentine's Day crab. I've never had a romantic one and I'm pretty sure I never will. I had high hopes (lolz) that I might get a bottle of wine, but alas, I'm only drinking the one I bought myself. I laughed at Grumpy Cat pictures with a friend all day:

 and then my little gift from God brought me this home:

Athena made a frigging Grumpy Cat in art today. It's a Valentine's Day miracle!

To repay her I made to-mah-to soup and heart shaped grilled cheese.

While I may never get showered by gifts by a man (or woman if I ever become a lesbian, God willing) but I'll always have these girls that make me smile.

For now:

Pass the wine.

Wordless Wednesday

Today I'm going to let Kim Rosas do all the talking for these pictures because she says it better than me in Oops! I Forgot to Wean My 2 Year Old

Look at my kid! - Honor Roll Edition

Sweet Miss Athena Bee. 

I remember when she was just a wee babe poopin' in her Bumbo. 

Now here she is all grown up. A daggone HONOR ROLL student. What's next? Driver's license?!

Girlfriend earned herself a free taco. We are STOKED!

Louis has promised her a trip to the pet store and Gammy and I shall take her out to eat. 

Good grades are a BIG deal up in this family!

Mazol Tov, Ms. Bee!