Funky Monkey Mom

DownEast Basics giveaway

2011-10-18T16:26:00.000-04:00

Win the item of your choice from DownEast Basics, hosted by Natural Baby Goods! Enter through 11/1/11.

Damaged?

2011-10-10T14:14:00.001-04:00

I have been feeling that I don't want to be in a relationship for a good long while. Like, years. Sometimes I wonder whether this means that I'm damaged in some way, but more often than not I know it's an indication that I need time to heal and to get to know myself--not as a wife or a mother but as a fully formed woman.Going on a date last week really solidified this for me. Especially with my kids being so young, there just isn't room in my life for someone else right now. And I love my kids so much I wonder whether anyone else could even come close to their importance for me. It kind of isn't fair to potential suitors, having to compete with two small, entertaining and endearing creatures who look like me. But when they are not quite so small and not quite as endearing, maybe it will be time to find someone to roll my eyes at when my creatures stomp away muttering "whatever."

Competent

2011-09-29T17:18:00.000-04:00

I feel so much more a competent, single adult than I do a competent mother. Of course it's nice to feel like a competent adult but I would like to feel that way about my most important job. Is this a universal feeling, that we can always do a better job as parents?

Warm up with a rug for fall!

2011-09-11T10:07:00.001-04:00

Enter to win a great Mohawk rug from the awesome mama at Natural Baby Goods! Enter through 9/22.

Happiness on hold

2011-07-10T22:48:00.001-04:00

[this is in response to the questions posited on a lifebyme post]

I feel as though happiness is on hold in my life as it is in this moment. I feel as though if my life as it is were to become my life as I want it to be, then I would be happy. But that's not how it works, they tell me.
The things I think need to be completed in order for my happiness to be released: the sale of my condo, a divorce, moving to California. And probably a career change. Big things, huh? My problem is that I stress both about things that are out of my control and things that are in my control. I start to think of these big things as insurmountable, regardless of who has the control, and then I lose hope that they will ever change.
The sale of the condo is out of my hands now--I have done what I need to do and now I wait for the buyer to do what she needs to do, and the bank, and the attorneys and the agents... A divorce is very much in my control. Yes, I need the funds to accomplish this, but the first step I need to take is choosing an attorney and then let her lead me. Easy, right?! But I haven't done this because I feel paralyzed by ALL the obstacles. They start to look like a mountain range, especially when I get overwhelmed and back up, abandoning myself and my responsibilities. The closer I am able to come to them, the more I can see the individuality of the obstacle, the hand- and footholds, the paths that are available to me.
And then there are the other issues, but that would make for a very long blog entry. The question at hand is,
* What's one thing you could do today to connect with happiness now?
I think the first step, for me, is to make the committment not to abandon myself. But that's a big thing and fairly amorphous. Is there a small step that would lead me to the same place? Perhaps not allowing myself to indulge in anger. I can do that by keeping my mouth shut, counting to 10, breathing. I'm sure I'll be tested today, and I'll give it a try. The other stuff will be there tomorrow.

EmersonMade giveaway!

2011-05-25T09:37:00.001-04:00

Win a very generous $150 GC to EmersonMade from the cool mama at Natural Baby Goods! Enter through 6/7.

Sleepytime

2011-04-30T11:08:00.001-04:00

Enter to win a Halo ComfortLuxe Sleepwear of your choice! Visit naturalbabygoods through 5/13.

Luscious Metals Necklace Giveaway

2011-04-23T14:23:00.001-04:00

Enter to win a gorgeous Original Sweetheart Necklace by Luscious Metals from the great gal at Susan's Disney Family! A whopping $130 value... enter through 4/28.

organicKidz

2011-04-22T09:41:00.001-04:00

Enter to win a very fashionable stainless steel baby bottle/sippy cup from the great mama at Natural Mama and organicKidz!

2011-04-13T11:36:00.001-04:00

Check out the giveaway for a $100 Amazon gc from from the generous folks at the Southern Hospitality blog and Seattle's Best Coffee!
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/giveaway-winners/giveaways/seattles-best-coffee-review-100-giveaway-1/comment-page-4/#comment-70706

Goodies from Vancouver!

2010-11-10T10:07:00.001-05:00

Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to Vancouver-based Lavish and Lime boutique from the generous Natural Mama!

StyleKid

2010-11-05T10:13:00.001-04:00

Enter to win a cool $75 gift certificate from StyleKid from the fantastic Natural Mama.

Sleeping on Cloud Nine!

2010-10-24T10:38:00.001-04:00

Be sure to enter the dreamy giveaway of either an Embody Memory or Latex Foam Mattress by Sealy, worth $2500!!!

See these run!

2010-10-12T16:51:00.001-04:00

Check out the awesome giveaway of a pair of See Kai Run shoes from Natural Baby Goods!

Great quote

2010-10-04T10:51:00.001-04:00

"I can't throw myself away. I can't pretend that I don't exist. I need to try to find some sort of balance for all of those needs. Knowing, of course, that it's not going to be a perfect balance."
Amy Brenneman in Working Mother magazine

Makeup Madness!

2010-06-14T11:27:00.002-04:00

Check out the awesome giveaway of a box of makeup goodies from the amazing Cybele at Cybele Says!

What an Animal

2010-04-18T13:18:00.002-04:00

Check out the incredible giveaway of a Dyson Animal DC25 from the great gal at Organic Girl!

Meowwwww!!!

DOA

2010-03-31T19:47:00.001-04:00

Aside from Avery, I feel like I've just wasted the last 12 years of my life.

Sent from my iPhone

All about the men!

2010-02-24T14:18:00.001-05:00

Check out this giveaway of some duds for the guys! Company 81 Men's Clothing giveaway from the gals at Secret Suburb Society.

With/Without

2010-02-07T14:29:00.001-05:00

In the vein of Ms Alexandra Penney (a Maddoff victim and accomplished writer and artist), I am submitting my own lists of requirements for living. (See Penney's list in the Feb 2010 issue of Town & Country magazine, which focuses on "Wonder Women", it's a great issue).

Can't live without:

Used to be good coffee, now it's good tea

Sleep

A shower at least every other day (yes I know daily is ideal) even if it means Ave is watching a movie and is unsupervised for 10 minutes...

One pair of jeans that make me feel dangerously sexy

Non-toxic cleaning products, on this I will not compromise

Deliciously-scented, high-quality liquid shower gel

Coloring my hair, used to be for fun, now it's all about the greys

Internet access

Reading material

Good bread and butter

Good chocolate and, occasionally, cake

Good quality, soy-based candles

Seeing the ocean at least once a year

My son, who makes it all worthwhile, even while he's turning my hair grey

Can live without:

Coffee (until last week, never thought I would say that!)

TV (until last month, never thought I would say that either)

Regularly scheduled haircuts

And a new category, Can't live with:

Unnecessary stress

The accompanying, unnecessary anxiety

Friends who don't give as much as they take

People who treat me as though I am not worthy of respect

Disrespecting myself

Stay tuned, I'll probably add to this over time! How about creating your own?

Contest!

2010-02-07T09:41:00.001-05:00

Check out the giveaway of some gorgeous cocktail rings from the great gals at Secret Suburb Society!

Journal

2010-01-31T11:50:00.001-05:00

I am going to attempt to begin journaling here. I used to journal online at livejournal and enjoyed it and I have been wanting to start again. I also have some lovely hard copy journals at home I could use, but I can't seem to remember to fish them out and bring them along with me on my daily travels. Sometime when I am home (I can't do it at work), it is also my goal to change the color scheme of this blog so it's a little easier to read... Here we go!

Vera!

2010-01-22T13:09:00.001-05:00

Check out the great giveaway of a Vera Bradley 'Morgan' bag from the super-cool ladies at Secret Suburb Society!

Ah, take me away...

2010-01-09T09:28:00.001-05:00

Check out the giveaway of a pampering basket from gourmetgiftbaskets.com from the great gal at MommyPR!

Today

2009-12-17T22:11:00.001-05:00

Is the first anniversary of my grandma Dorothy's passing, and I have felt magic all around me. I kept saying that the universe was being kind to me today, but I think my Dorothy may have a hand in it. I love you Grandma!

Sent from my iPhone

Gorgeous coffee!

2009-12-16T11:55:00.001-05:00

Make your coffee absolutely gorgeous by putting it in a fabulous Lilly Pulitzer travel mug--if you win it from the cool gal at Secret Suburb Society!

Not just hot air

2009-12-08T09:59:00.001-05:00

Check out the fantastic giveaway of a supercool hot air balloon keychain by Coach from the great gal at Secret Suburb Society!

For lil bums

2009-12-06T12:25:00.001-05:00

Check out the great giveaway of a CushytOOsh cloth diaper from the great gal at Happy Green Babies!

Gotta hand(bag) it to them!

2009-12-06T12:13:00.001-05:00

Check out this fantastic and stylish giveaway of a HandBag Heaven handbag from the great gal at Prissy Green!

How do you know

2009-12-01T22:21:00.001-05:00

When a marriage is worth saving and when it's time to go? Is it a question you answer with your head or your heart? Or, if the question needs to be asked, is it already too late?

The Best Holiday Gift Guide Around!

2009-11-18T10:37:00.001-05:00

Check out Cool Mom Picks' Holiday Gift Guide for all your gift-giving needs. Lots of eco-options too, no doubt!

Demand civil rights be upheld in LA

2009-10-16T10:17:00.001-04:00

Check out the petition I created! And sign it!

<div id="peSiteTargetDiv755813332"><a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/" style="display: block; width: 252px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com</a></div>
<script src="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/js/widget.js?petitionID=755813332"></script>

Coach

2009-08-30T09:06:00.001-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a gorgeous Coach Canvas Slim Envelope Wallet, courtesty of Jomashop, from the great gal at Southern Girl Reviews.

Off the wall!

2009-08-23T09:12:00.001-04:00

Check out the great giveaway of a Name Your Design Canvas Wall Art piece (valued at $125) from the funky folks at Project Nursery!

Wow, Orange Cream Soda! Heaven.

2009-08-21T09:58:00.000-04:00

Check out the awesome giveaway of Reed's Original Ginger Brew and Virgil's Microbrewed Root Beer and Cream Sodas (which includes the aforementioned ORANGE CREAM SODA!!!). Head on over to Sweeps4Bloggers to check it out!

Ah, shoes....

2009-08-16T09:04:00.001-04:00

Check out the awesome giveaway of a pair of shoes from musthaveSHOES.com from the great gal at The Funky Monkey! (no relation, but she has great taste in monikers, haha) ; )

The "Cats Pajamas"

2009-08-16T08:53:00.001-04:00

Check out the great giveaway of a Hatley Backpack and Lunch Tote of your choice from the cool mom at http://www.mommypr.com/?p=4043#comment-36212!

Fantastic shoes!

2009-08-16T08:43:00.001-04:00

Check out the giveaway of a pair of Livie and Luca shoes from the great gal at http://mymomsview.com/index.php/2009/08/livie-luca-pair-of-shoes/comment-page-12/#comment-70880!

Yummo!

2009-08-16T08:31:00.001-04:00

Check out the yummy giveaway of a $100 gift certificate to The Healthy Pantry from the great gal at http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/2009/08/13/3698/#comment-443274!

Vacuum love!

2009-08-08T09:35:00.001-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a Hoover Platinum Collection Upright Bagless Cyclonic Vacuum

from the great gal at Prissy Green!

FLOR Joy!

2009-07-21T09:30:00.001-04:00

Check out the fantastic giveaway of a FLOR 5x7 area rug in the design of your choice from the great gal at Jolly Mom!

Ever seen a dragon blow COOL steam?

2009-06-26T13:14:00.002-04:00

Check out the great giveaway of an adorable Crane animal humidier from the nifty gal at makingmyamericandream!

Transform the dust bunnies

2009-06-24T10:06:00.002-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a Dyson DC25 from the great gal over at Mom in the City!

Scrub a dub

2009-06-21T09:30:00.001-04:00

Enter to win a Clarisonic Skin Care Brush from the great gal at momstart!!!

Clear skin!

2009-05-27T12:49:00.002-04:00

Check out the great giveaway over at Mommy Loves It for the Tropicale gift set from Peruvia Botanica.

Rest your head

2009-05-20T16:35:00.001-04:00

Check out the great giveaway for a pair of Marriott's Down Alternative Pillows from the great gal at 3 kids and us, courtesy of Marriott Rewards Insiders.

Traveling with Baby's Blogaversary Bash!

2009-05-17T09:40:00.002-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a pair of Chip and Pepper Stella bootcut jeans in Ash Rapids from the great gal at Traveling with Baby (and help celebrate her second Blogaversary)!

Take a stroll(er)

2009-05-15T15:39:00.003-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a Bumbleride SE Flyer from the awesome folks at Look What Mom Found!

It's in the bag!

2009-05-15T09:49:00.002-04:00

Check out the awesome giveaway for a Baby Bee Eglan "Brown Circle" Micro Fiber diaper bag from the great folks at Project Nursery.

Whistle while you work

2009-05-10T13:58:00.001-04:00

Steam clean your way to a greener life with the Steamboy T1 Steam Mop. Chemical-free cleaning with the power of steam just got easier. Read about the experience mom blogger Cat at 3 Kids and Us had with her Steamboy T1 and enter to win a steam mop for your house too! Giveaway ends May 31st.

yum...

2009-05-03T13:02:00.001-04:00

Check out the, um, delicious giveaway of a $50 merchandise credit at fantastic Eden Fantasys from the great folks at thriftyjinxy.

Funny

2009-05-02T19:09:00.001-04:00

Waiting for Jay Mohr to get onstage. I love this guy and I'm super excited but tired and hungry too. And the people around me are munching on popcorn and Sugar Babies. Bastards!

Sent from my iPhone

Holy coffee!

2009-05-02T09:49:00.001-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a Keurig Platinum Coffee Brewing System from the awesome gal over at 3kidsandus.

It will wash the floor for me!

2009-05-02T09:25:00.001-04:00

Check out the amazing giveaway of a Hoover FloorMate over at www.akblessingsabound.com/2009/04/07/hoover-floormate-review-and-giveaway/comment-page-25/#comment-24313

Sent from my iPhone

This is a test of the emergency blogcast system

2009-04-29T16:59:00.001-04:00

Attempt #973 of mobile blogging. Hope this works!

Sent from my iPhone

Stroller Giveaway!

2008-09-04T17:18:00.001-04:00

Be sure to check out this AMAZING giveaway for a Micralite Toro stroller from the good folks at MomDot: Win A Micralite Toro Stroller

wow

2008-07-28T10:20:00.003-04:00

george michael last night. man, is he hot! i don't know how old he is now, but he moves his body... wow. i totally have a new crush. we left after flawless, i think, to pick up the little monkey from the sitter and i would have loved to hear freedom, but... next time, right?!

Boston, TD Banknorth Garden, 07/27/2008
SET LIST:

First Half

Waiting (Reprise)
Fast Love/I'm Your Man
Father Figure
Praying For Time
Hard Day
Everything She Wants
One More Try
Different Corner
Easier Affair
Too Funky
Star People

Interval
John & Elvis video

Second Half

Faith
Spinning The Wheel
Feeling Good
Roxanne
Kissing A Fool
Amazing
Flawless
Outside
Careless Whisper

Freedom 90
Freedom Reprise

cloth all the way

2008-07-28T10:10:00.003-04:00

these are the diapers we use and love. couldn't hurt to have more though... enter this generous contest and pass along.

ave update

2008-07-24T22:59:00.003-04:00

my baby looks like a little boy today. he is 10 months old, cruising around, cutting his third tooth. i give him silly nicknames, and i had been calling him "two tooths", which i now need to change to "three tooths". he is the best thing in the world. when he smiles at me, my heart comes out of my body and soars.

sunny disposition

2008-06-05T11:00:00.002-04:00

this is what i would greet the day with if i had the time and money:

greener than green

2008-03-28T15:54:00.001-04:00

would be tickled, well, green to win a mega-green prize package from babybuyproducts

peace

2008-03-22T09:31:00.004-04:00

I have always believed that there is such a thing as a good death--generally, when you know it's coming, you have time to prepare and tie up loose ends with yourself and your loved ones, and minimize pain to be able to go in peace.
I'm thinking about this because our friend's wife passed yesterday after a courageous battle with cancer. We only met her recently, and her easy smile and warmth in the midst of such pain was incredible to behold. She also met our infant son at that time, and even feeling so weak was overjoyed to hold him and play with him as much as she could.
She woke up in the middle of the night and said, "Help me". That was the last thing she said. Her partner and her children were with her through the night until she passed in the morning.
It breaks my heart to think that she was frightened--that not only did she know her time had ended but that something in the passing frightened her. I hope that in the intervening hours between the beginning of the end and the time of death that she knew her family was there and she was comforted; that she knew she was going to a place of peace and was ready; that she was no longer in pain but felt the warmth of whatever light was awaiting her.
I hope that, in the end, death was kind to her. She deserved that much.

practicing html

2008-03-12T10:57:00.001-04:00

shop

slingin' it!

2008-03-12T10:43:00.003-04:00

The lovely blogger at Ellinghouse is so generously giving away a very cool sling.
I love the Olivia -- how about you?!

baby birds

2008-03-10T20:13:00.001-04:00

would love to win this very cool pillow from "from dates to diapers, and beyond!"

biscuits, hold the gravy!

2008-03-05T16:26:00.002-05:00

would love to win a gc from warm biscuit bedding co courtesy of an island life.

suds

2008-03-04T10:27:00.001-05:00

would love to win dropps detergent from pennies in my pocket!

crying

2008-03-01T10:06:00.004-05:00

This rant is regarding letting babies "cry it out". Why, I ask, why? A story, for example:
This morning, one of my colleagues was talking about her baby girl who didn't sleep through the night until she was 10 months. Much earlier, mom let her "cry it out", while mom went down to the basement in order not to hear her little girl screaming in distress. Obviously, this baby was not ready to sleep through the night and was letting her mom know it.
Why, and how, could you ignore your baby's painful, distressed calls for you? I truly believe that we are part and parcel of the animal kingdom, and it is written in our DNA to respond to our young, to protect them and keep them safe from predators, real or imagined. My son can whimper from across the house and something in me hears him even when the sound in barely audible, and I run to him to scoop him up, to protect him and let him know that he is safe. I will protect him from the bears and the lions and the crows, from the dangers of the night and the dangers of all that is unknown to him. He knows me, and he trusts me, and I will never betray that most tender of bonds between us. I am his mother, his protectress.

play ground!

2008-02-26T16:43:00.001-05:00

would love to win a cool play tent from our blessed arrows!

no green thumb, but would love green shoes!

2008-02-26T16:13:00.001-05:00

would love to win "simple" shoes from seven dogs and a baby!

no, thank YOU

2008-02-26T10:04:00.001-05:00

would love to win these amazing announcements and thank-you cards from "an island life"

never to early to read

2008-02-22T10:24:00.000-05:00

would love to win the sweet book "Hop Plop" by Corey Rosen Schwartz & Tali Klein from
http://www.sevendogsandababy.com/2008/02/book-review-hop-plop.html

calling all monkeys

2008-02-22T10:15:00.001-05:00

would love to win cool calling cards from http://www.stuckonyou.biz/
at http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/review-stuck-on-you-personalized-labels.html

kimonos for babies

2008-02-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

would love to win one of these adorable baby kimonos from http://thesocalledme.net/archives/infant-wrap-giveaway/

This is the first

2008-02-17T12:06:00.001-05:00

Let me be the first to welcome myself to my blog.
I am posting this primarily to see how the blog will look and whether I need to edit fonts and colors. I hope it is pretty. Otherwise I will make it pretty.