Meet Katia from Crazy for Trying. Katia is a truly talented blogger who chronicles her life with style. Don’t let her blog title fool you. This lady has it together. She has two adorable girls and a wonderful husband. Then for good measure, she has a lovely home, lives in the city and she walks to work. When I met Katia a couple months ago I knew I wanted to peek into her iPod. Just as I expected, you will find here a fabulously eclectic mixtape that doesn’t disappoint.

New holiday designs are arriving in the store all the time! We now offer foldover cards with inside printing to include your own custom text and additional photos. It’s a great way to share an end of the year update with family and friends. See an example here. Each foldover card is printed on premium cardstock with either a UV gloss coating, or a shimmery pearl finish.

I’ve nearly finished the The Ten Year Nap. It’s a character study of a group of women who are all going through their own awakenings, and questioning their purposes the choices they’ve made. Their lives are connected by common threads: they’re moms who are 40 years old. I was prepared for typical chick-lit, but something about this book has really drawn me in. It’s a rare read that I don’t want to end, and I hope the ending doesn’t disappoint. If anyone decides to read it, I’m curious what you think.

Sometimes the media makes me crazy. Here in Florida, what just a few years ago would have been considered a simple tropical storm had us all in a tizzy. So much so that Jake’s first day of school was cancelled. Not that I’m minimizing hurricanes. I’ve lived through many of them and have a healthy respect. Anyhoo.

I was anxious to hear about the first day of first grade. When I asked Jake how it went, he didn’t disappoint in the drama department. “Mom, it was the worst day ever.” Having heard this following his first swim lesson, I was certain he was bluffing. “We didn’t get to play on the playground.” Oh, the trauma.

Naturally, I drew on my Jagger “You can’t always get what you want” tactic that I save for such occasions. “You know Jake, you can’t always do everything you want. You’re a big kid in first grade. No snack time. No naps. It’s the big leagues bud.”

He pressed on.

So I went for the jugular.

“What do you think would happen if I didn’t go to work when I didn’t feel like it?”

Jake knows this answer. “We wouldn’t have money.”

Bingo kid.

If I sound like an unfeeling mom, I’m really not. I know that Jake is workin’ it, and secretly loved every minute of his first day: his stocked pencil box, the workbook tucked neatly in his desk, the name tag he wore around his neck, the friends he made. He loved it all. I find myself being tough because I don’t want him to be entitled. It would be so easy with one, so I fight it a little harder. Maybe more than I should.

Part of me is a little sad that the easy-peasy fun of kindergarten is over. I miss it already. Goodbye naps. Hello Friday spelling tests.

On another note: Mommy Pie invited me to get all random. I recently did this with Steph, but had so much more to say. Who knew? Considering I hate talking about myself. Random part deux to be continued…

You may know that I have a picky eater. He came by it naturally. I too, was picky. Now, I think of myself as particular. Of discerning taste. My mom used deception when I was a kid to get me to eat. She did things like grinding up raisins in the blender and putting them in cookies. I hated raisins alone. Still do. When we would comment that we liked the cookies, she would get all sly and let us know that we really liked raisins after all.

I hated that, but do admit to having resorted to such tactics. I bought Jessica Seinfeld’s book and set out on my course of deception. But her recipe was a little too low fat. You already know that I hate margarine. So I changed my version to butter. And I used whole eggs. I also increased the amount of rolled oats. My sister in law actually grinds her own wheat into flour. It makes the most incredible baked goods. I used it in these, and it made amazing cookies!

When Jake asked what the chick peas were (because he was hovering for the Ghiradelli chocolate chips), I told him it was a secret ingredient that went into “kid food.” He bought it. He tried the cookies right out of the oven, and my deception was complete.

Myra’s Deceptively Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c light or dark brown sugar
3/4 c butter
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups chocolate chips
3/4 c chopped walnuts (optional)
3/4 c raisins (optional)
2 c flour
2/3 c old fashioned oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Cream sugar and butter. Add vanilla, and eggs, followed by the chickpeas and chocolate chips. The add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.

Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes (it only takes 6-7 in a convection oven).

Say hello to MommyPie. She is the second person I met in the blogosphere. One of the first pages I read on her blog was her personal story. I was hooked. Ever since, her blog is among the first I check in my reader. Such the blogging ground breaker is MommyPie that she actually coined a word in the Urban Dictionary. When I asked MommyPie to appear on Mixtape Monday, I knew that she wouldn’t disappoint. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who can work Squeeze and Billie Holiday into the same mixtape is a friend of mine.

Steph? If you keep saying such nice things about me, my head might swell. But would that be so bad? So stop it some more. (Shuttie already if you’re reading this Lynn). That would be a not so subtle message to my younger sister, whom I am certain is snorting on her chardonnay after reading Steph’s loveliness. We do love each other, but geez, we shared a bedroom as teenagers.

So Steph gets me all slathered up with lovely words and then asks me to participate in a meme. What could I say? Here are 10 random facts about me, a little ditty that originated from Flickrlovr.

10. I hate gnomes and clowns. I don’t really get the point of either.

9. While we’re on the subject, I also hate clutter. I don’t have “knick knacks” or “crap knacks” as Michael calls them. Mainly because they collect dust. Give me clean spaces. Oh, there I go dreaming again.

8. I am introverted in a large group, but can chat away like nobody’s business if it’s just you and me. I hate talking about myself, so I’m a really good conversationalist. (Is that two things?)

7. Never, ever serve me margarine instead of butter. It’s wrong. Kind of like that fake non-dairy creamer instead of half and half.

6. Speaking of dairy, if you look in my fridge right now, you’ll find at least 20 different varieties of cheese. I’m dead serious.

5. I love coffee, but only when I first wake up.

4. I happily give up manicures and pedicures so I can buy fabulous skin care products. My logic is that you cut your nails off. Your face is pretty much with you all the time.

3. When I retire, I plan to be a children’s photographer. It’s a passion of mine.

2. I can be ridiculously practical. I really don’t think I need more than one really good purse.

1. I appreciate my husband. Is that corny? I mean that I get what he does for us and try to let him know often that I notice. Next year I will have been married as long as I was single. And in case you’re wondering, I married young.

I continue to be blown away by the fabulous people I’ve met in the blogosphere. Who knew you were all out there? I’ve said it before, but I continue to be amazed at how much I appreciate the friendships of people I’ve never met face to face.

For example:

Steph is having a virtual dinner party tonight. I’m invited. And you should see the guest list. I am so there.

Kim is having a virtual baby shower. She invited Moon and Back Studios to be the exclusive baby announcement sponsor. One lucky winner is going to win a pile of prizes. Is she brilliant or what?

Mama Rose gave me a prize. I love me some prizes. Especially when they’re from such a talented writer. Thanks Mama Rose!

It was a long week at work. Too much time at the office, not enough time to read blogs. Going through slight withdrawal, and missing the doogs (see how I did that MommyPie?).

But that’s what weekends are for. Happy Friday!

That I love Mikey. I’ve always said that there is nothing quite like watching your husband love your children. When he hugs Jake, it feels like he’s hugging me. Yes, it’s true that having Jake has changed the dynamic of our marriage. Drastically. In ways I couldn’t imagine. Sometimes we have to make an effort to stay connected, so much has this little person intertwined himself between us.

Jake is in his last camp of the summer. It’s a one week course on Space and Astronomy. He is fascinated by it, and two days ago, informed us of a meteor shower that would streak the sky that night. In his child speak, he explained that it was an event that couldn’t be missed. And that it would happen in the middle of the night. He would be asleep, but could he watch?

Michael did a quick Google and found that it would be in full view at 4 AM. “Oh well,” I said. There was no way I was interrupting my sleep to stare at blackness in the middle of the night. “But it’s important to him,” said Michael. “It’s something I need to do for him.”

So we set the alarm for 4 AM. It blared in my ear as I mechanically pounded on the alarm. I was already back to sleep while Michael rousted Jake, and they took their places in the front yard. At 4:30, I woke up suddenly. Maybe it was too quiet. Or because I was alone in our bed. I crept through the silent house, cracked the front door, and saw Michael first. Then Jake. They were sitting on lawn chairs, peering up together at the clear, night sky. “Hi mom,” said Jake, wide awake, as if it was mid afternoon.

It wasn’t an extraordinary moment. Or maybe something that a million parents wouldn’t do if it was important to their kids. But for me in that moment, it was my idea of a perfect husband. Someone who would give up sleep to do something important to a 6 year old boy.

It’s just another reason.

A few months ago, I met an amazing blogger. Her name is Jenny, and she writes Jenny on the Spot. When she posted a photo of her new Cannondale and how her love for it was so great that she called upon friends to help name it, I knew we would be fast friends. Did I mention that she’s a mom of three AND she competes in triathlons? And she has naturally curly hair? No Jenny, I don’t hate you. As for her mixtape, it just rocks. If this is the kind of music that makes you crazy enough to get in the “zone” to train, then sign me up for some Run DMC sister.