History Repeating Itself
I was a Senior in high school and had just auditioned for the big musical of the year. It was The Wizard of Oz and I wanted to be the Witch more than anything else in the whole world. I had been practicing my cackle like nobody’s business. I really wanted that part and was as dramatic as any other teenager at that stage in life is. This was my life. Oh how I laugh at what was so important back then.
The next morning I went to read the cast list. My name was nowhere near the space reserved for the person who got the role as the Wicked Witch. My best friend got the part instead. Granted, she did have a much better cackle than I did. I was cast as Auntie Em and I was heartbroken. Embarrassed about anyone seeing me in this fragile state I called my mom and before I could even shed a tear she was at the school to pick me up and let me be sad. She let me play hooky that day and drown in my sorrow, but only for a little while.
She too had a story of her own to tell to me. It was also her senior year in high school when she had tried out to be a cheerleader. She was awesome and could do the splits and all the tumbling required. She had practiced and practiced and was feeling very confidant that she had what it took to make the team. It ended up being a popularity contest, her fellow students voted and she did not make the cut. Not even her closest friend had voted for her. She was as devastated as I was and I could feel that in the way she told me her story.
My Mom telling me these real stories is how she related to me. She always had an experience to tell me that went right a long with something I had just gone through. She reserved them for times in my life when I would need them. Like an old school google with the corresponding story to be brought up whenever the right moment came along. It had always amazed me how she waited to tell me a particular experience until I needed it most.
These were not stories I had heard over and over again, where I could recite the punchline, like maybe my Dad’s stories were. (Just kidding Dad you know I love your stories!) My Mom’s stories were usually brand new to me. They softened the blow of my heartache and helped me know that others experienced what I did and are just fine and even better for having experienced it.
I really believe this was my Mom’s gift to me. Each story was a present, her way of telling me it was ok to feel vulnerable and sad, that she had been there and lived on.
Of course I went on to put on a Tony award winning performance of Auntie Em with gray hairspray and drawn on wrinkles that rocked the house.
Now I have four young daughters. They will need me to soften the blow. They will need to know that I care and that I can relate, as small as the drama may seem they will need my love and support to let them know that whatever they are going through is not trivial, that they matter.
So when my oldest daughter feels embarrassed about some thing I will tell her about the time I walked into a wall trying to follow a boy I liked, or when I threw up pasta in the parking lot after eating at a restaurant with a big group of friends. How one of those friends even nicknamed me Barfie and occasionally sent me the barf bags from airplanes in the mail.
When another one of my daughters likes a boy that does not like her back I will relate story after story ( I have a million on this subject) about how I often felt like a female version of Ducky in Pretty in Pink. We will then watch Pretty in Pink and all the other brat pack movies of course and cry and laugh together like only a mother and daughter can.
Nothing will be off the table. (well maybe some things will be!) My daughters will see that through my stories these kind of things happen to everyone. They mold us and make us the kind of people who can dust themselves off after a big fat life fail.
It’s nice to know that these things happened to me for a reason. That these hilarious, awkward, mortifying experiences all happened so that I can pass on my mothers amazing gift of stories that will soften the blow.
Good thing I have so many stories, because with four daughters I think I am going to need them all.
*This was my reading for Utah’s first Listen To Your Mother production that took place on May 9th 2013.
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Listen To Your Mother
About a year or so ago I came across an awesome event That was taking place in different cities in the US. It was a night of readings by all different kinds of women and the subject was motherhood. I remember thinking that if this ever came to Utah I so wanted to audition and be a part of it. While browsing things on the internet awhile back. I found at that it was indeed to come to Utah that someone had applied for it to be here! I was so thankful Heather had thrown her hat in the ring to produce Utah’s first ever Listen To Your Mother Event.
I was really nervous to audition. I had written my piece pretty in advance. Sometimes I get a little nervous sharing super personal things on my blog. I wrote a lot of things that I usually don’t share and for the first time I did not care. I just wanted to audition and let it out and see what happened. I was so happy to find out that I indeed was chosen to be one of the people who get to share my story about motherhood. There will be seventeen of us total and they are all amazing, strong, women.
You really do not want to miss this event!
It will be May 9th at 7:00 at Thanksgiving Point. Go here to purchase tickets. You can also buy them at the door.
The point of this show is to give motherhood a microphone. So please bring your Mom’s, your sisters. your girlfriends, or anyone else you would love to cry and laugh with this evening as you listen to everyday women talk about the most wonderful subject that unites us all, Motherhood!
Utah Massage Envy One hour Massage Giveaway
I have a confession to make. I have never had a massage. The thought has always made me nervous and I always have had a weird thing about my feet where I think they are so unattractive that I feel super self conscience having anyone touch them. Because Mothers day is fast approaching and life has been so crazy that I really wanted to relax I decided to get over those nerves. Last week I had the opportunity to go to the Massage Envy in Sugarhouse and get over my silly feet and body massage fears. I am so glad that I did.
I was in great company with a ton of fun blogger friends. The set up was so much fun. They had an awesome area for us to chat then we all took turns getting sugar foot scrubs, Chair massages and mini table massages. It was amazing!! Any fear or nerves I had immediately faded. The staff was so great and very friendly. I also loved how professional they were. I have a feeling that I am going to want to get massages more often! I also learned the many benefits. Massage can improve posture, lower blood pressure, improve circulation and much more.
I also enjoyed the sugar foot scrub! I went home with samples of the awesome products they use and the girls and even Brandon each got a sugar foot scrub from me. I know it was not as amazing as the one I got at Massage Envy but it was still a lot of fun. They all loved it. Especially my four yr old. I hope they don’t get too used to me pampering them on a regular basis though.
Massage Envy was kind enough to give me a certificate for a free one hour massage to give away to one of you, right here! You can use it at any Massage Envy location on Utah’s wasatch front. The certificate just needs to be used by May 31st.
What a nice chance to have a break from your crazy kids and relax! Just fill out the rafflecopter below. ALso be sure to Follow Massage Envy Utah on Facebook to keep up on the latest happenings.
*I was also given a certificate to have a massage from Massage Envy. All opinions are my very own.
Why I Hate Having A Clean House
The past few weeks have been challenging to say the least. We are getting ready to say adieu to our tiny two bedroom one bath condo for something that fits us better. This has meant a lot of things. I have had to have a clean house. Not just a semi clean house but an immaculately cleaned house. Keeping a house that tidy is just not in my DNA.
Everyone says that once you have a clean house it is easier to maintain as long as you are putting it back to clean mode everyday which is somewhat true and does take a lot less time then waiting for your house to get super messy before cleaning it. What I have found though is that having a super clean house is not all it’s cracked up to be. Sure it feels nice and is much better than sitting in a house that could be featured on an episode of hoarders, But it taunts me. Once the house is clean I look around and still see imperfections. Because nobody can clean that perfect. It is so clean every tiny thing stares out at me and screams loudly just as if it is another child in my household. Following around my children to make sure they don’t mess it up is also not fun at all.
When I have had to leave the house squeaky clean so some interested buyer can come look at it. I literally have had to run out so the tiny imperfections stop blaring there horn at me. I would much rather have a mediocre cleaned house. Nothing too messy. But just enough mess so the tiny things don’t rear out their ugly head and drive me quite so crazy.
I have never been the best homemaker. I hold onto clutter and things can get pretty messy fairly quickly. Don’t even get me started on the laundry. I let it pile up so long that it is intimidating as slaying a fearsome dragon to rescue the princess in the tall cloud reaching tower.
I have never wanted to be a slave to a clean house. Maybe that is why a little mess never bothers me too much. When faced with the decision to go to a park with my kids, a lunch date with friends or lets face it maybe even a visit to the OB. or stay home and tackle my daily chores. I would gladly leave my messy house. The mess can always wait right?
This constant June Cleaver mode of cleaning has taught me a few things. Sometimes messy is ok. Constant clean house perfection is overrated, and no matter how my house looks, some good chocolate and a nap can always ease the mind.
*Photo Credit:Wikipedia
NUK Freshfoods Cook-n-Blend Baby Food Maker Review
With Squeak being my 4th baby I have had fun trying new baby products that I did not have with my other girls. A lot changes in 9 years. Who knew? One thing I have never done is make my own baby food. I have always wanted to, but I thought it would be too hard and too messy. well News Alert! It is not!
A few weeks ago I was sent the NUK Freshfoods Cook-n-Blend baby food maker in the mail to review through Moms Meet. My girls, especially my oldest, Shriek were so excited to help me make all kinds of baby food for their cute baby sister.
I went to the grocery store and bought a bunch of produce to make baby food with. my best tip is to buy the produce on sale and to buy fruits and veggies in season. That will help you to save even more money making your own baby food.
Sometimes new gadgets intimidate me but this one was pretty plain and simple. Shriek got my camera and started snapping pictures of each step just like a future blogger should. The recipe book it came with was great. I have so many recipes I want to try out.
I loved the separate steaming baskets to steam different veggies or fruits at the same time. I loved that it beeped when it was done. I also loved the spatula that fit in the holes of the basket to make it easier to handle when hot.
There are two options for the textures of your baby food. Since Squeal is 10 months I loved the chunkier texture. My only mistake I think was choosing the first flavor to be things Squeal had never eaten mixed. I got a little too creative trying to be all Julia Child. Squeak was not a big fan. It was Broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, but she LOVED every other single recipe I made. which included
Sweet Potatoes and apple’s
Apple Sauce
an organic frozen veggie mix of sweet white corn,Peas, carrots, and green beans.
Her favorite was the Sweet Potatoes.
Honestly this product is so easy to use. It’s easy to rinse off and it’s not too huge. my one wish is that maybe it would make more baby food at a time. I seriously have found myself using it a lot and I cannot wait to make even more flavors for squeak to try out. I also loved how good it tasted. I tried every one. I really did.
There are other accessories that looked really neat that you can get separately including a freezer tray and stackable cubes to store the baby food.
Go here for a $20 off coupon for the NUK Freshfoods cook-n-blend baby food maker and $1 off of any of the accessories. You can Also Check them out on Facebook
I am so glad I got to try out this product it has made super simple to make Squeak home made baby food. I did not think I would like it as much as I did, and for a sometimes underachiever mom it really made me feel like I was doing something extra special for my baby.
Disclaimer: I received this product for free from
the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinions on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.
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