Results tagged “fun” from Momtourage: Blogger Knows Best

by TamaraB

When the opportunity to participate in our daughter's college orientation came up we thought, "Oh, wouldn't it be fun to go back and relive our wild youth. Stay in the dorm overnight sharing a twin bed. Sneak out and drink beer. Break curfew. Play our stereos too loud (make that iPods). Hang out in dorm rooms with people we don't know. Skip breakfast. Share the communal bathrooms. Arrive late to class (make that programs). Do something vaguely illegal.

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I grew up in the country and my family didn't exactly have extra money to throw around, so sending my sister and me to summer camp was completely out of the question. Sure, I read books, and I fantasized about going to a dude ranch like Annette Funicello in Sierra Summer. (Yes, this book pre-dates my childhood but we did get much of our reading material at tag sales.) Sadly, the closest I ever got was a few days at our local church's VBS. My parents were not at all religious, but I guess they just couldn't say no to a few days of free childcare. 

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We took Lily to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this week to see the annual Hanami or Cherry Blossom Festival.  This is one of our favorite things to do and this year, with all the constant bad news we really needed a little pick me up, especially since I had just mailed the IRS a check for $3000.  It's okay, I just made it out to AIG (too bad we couldn't just write them off as a dependent)..  But seriously, we didn't participate in any tea bag temper tantrums - I thought that was the realm of my overbearing mum.  Honestly, who do these people that protest taxes think is going to pay for our way of life: the road fairy? the school fairy?  Grow up already.  These are probably the same people who voted for George Bush....not once but twice.  It came as no shock to me that it was all coordinated by the Fox News Channel.

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I've learned in my short life that the key to happiness is lowered expectations.  So I'm not expecting any boxes full of chocolates this Valentines nor any naughty lingerie (which is really a present for him more than for me).  I've been hinting for weeks that I like dark chocolate with nuts but I'm sure those hints fell on deaf ears.  Not to worry, they'll taste even better at half price on Sunday.  I'm not expecting much at all:  a hug from my husband; a lovely crayon drawn picture from my 6 year old (the best presents I could ever receive actually).  But one of my girlfriends passed along a great laugh to me for Valentines and I'd like to share it with you....

A man asked his wife what she'd like to have for her Birthday.  "I'd like to be six again'", she replied.

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Again, I don't know where my friend finds these photos but everytime she sends them my way I feel the need to share them with you.  This one brought a much needed chuckle as I received it the moment the current wave of job losses was announced.  I don't know which is worse - his legs (or just that stance??!!), those wings or that wall in need of a power washing.  Laugh it up people.  Comedy is a much needed remedy in these times.

 

Hours after posting Santa Phobia, my post about my 6 year old daughter's irrational fear of jolly Old Saint Nick, my friend sent me these photos of other scared children with that awful Santa.  I don't get it!  Is is the suit?  The beard?  I understand being scared of a giant rabbit at Easter, I get that too, it's like an acid flash back or something.  But this guy is harmless...and he brings presents!!  Enjoy these, I don't know where she got them but they're hilarious... I think I would have felt better if the kids in the photo were 6 years old and up and not visibly babies. 

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We celebrated new years (the Jewish one) on Long Island at #13 Dysfunction Junction with the family again.  After the awkward moments, the dramatic sighs and slamming doors were all over, Lily and I headed off to one of those roadside haunted farms for a less scary experience.  We picked pumpkins, apples and ate fresh roasted corn.  It was a blast.

It wouldn't be summer in Brooklyn, or any other borough in New York City, without another sleazy street festival.  My favorites are the fatty, food-inspector-free sausage and peppers and safety-inspection-free rides.  I always look forward to seeing the callow, greasy, disinterested, often too-busy-texting teenagers they have operating the rides as well.  It's enough to make me pop a Zantac...and a Zoloft for that matter.  (Check out the sign for the slide it reads F Slid.  I rest my case.)  The best part is that they're usually run by church dioceses as well!  I guess they say a few prayers ahead of time and hope that will cover them.  I happen to be one of lesser faith....I believe in insurance.

Here are some pics from the one we just had in our neighborhood.  Thank god it's over.

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Here's our friend Lora looking very pregnant at my friend Gen's barbeque on Sunday.  The barbeque rocked, the kids were in the pool for about four hours.  Gen & Lora are part of my Brooklyn Momtourage.  Lora was scheduled for a C Section this Friday (7/25).  However, she was experiencing some pre-labor pains at the table that were intense.  With her first child, she went 5 weeks early so she hadn't experienced the 'final week' before.  I have.  All I could think was 'you're at the end kiddo'.  We were all thinking that......it doesn't take a genius.

Well, we were right!  (We should start charging.)  Lora delivered a healthy, 5lb 11 oz, baby girl yesterday - Gianna Grace.   We're all so happy for her and her husband.  It's so exciting, can't wait to meet the newest member of our tot-tourage.  Welcome to the world Gianna Grace!!

We are all Hybrid Moms, balancing and managing our every day chaos.  The consummate Hybrid Mom, is a mom who can do it, certainly not perfectly, but who can also appreciate the ridiculousness of the every day AND laugh at it.
Starting, running and growing a business, absolutely has it's ups and downs - if it weren't for the laughs I truthfully do not know where I'd be. I assure you, I wouldn't be continuing to climb this mountain of what we hope to call...success.
The publisher of Hybrid Mom, Meryl, and I, took an unexpected trip to Florida last week. We were following the path to a person who had inquired about investing in the company. Of course we would have to go. If potential money calls - you go.
I book the flights the night before. We're up at 4am and down in Florida by 10. We get there and it's raining. Not just a little, but torrential. I rent a car so we can drive - it's a Kia. One that is manual everything - even that is just funny.
We start on the journey to find the house we need to go to. Through some rough neighborhoods (to say the least). We are lost now however the rain starts to let up. Suddenly we pass a sign of a storefront that says...Mo Money.

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I feel like I'm the only woman left in NYC that hasn't seen SEX IN THE CITY  the movie.  It's opening weekend box office topped $55million according to MSN films, a number that way surpasses the population of all five boroughs.  I'm waiting to see it with my Mama's Night Out momtourage 'cause that's how you're supposed to see this movie...with your girlfriends.  The only problem is, I won't be seeing them till July so until then I'm going to be sexless in the city till then. 

Did you see the movie?  Did you see it with your girlfriends or should we be making whipping sounds followed by meowing cat noises for your husband?  How was it?  Please let me know but don't give away the ending. 

I love a parade.  I know it sounds hoaky but I don't care.  I especially love small town parades.  I love all the fan fare associated with the local rotary club, the local Kiwanis organization, the blue haired old ladies marching for the local 'historical society' (I particularly love their historically accurate costumes combined with their Easy Spirit flats), the drum majorettes, the firemen, and most importantly, the Veterans of Foreign Wars who are finally getting the respect they deserve.  This past Memorial Day weekend was perfect weatherwise.  In fact, it's the first Memorial Day in five years (I know, I've been keeping track) since Lily was born that it wasn't raining or bloody freezing so we made sure to attend several parades and they did not disappoint.  Here are some pics:

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Celebrate Mother's Day Weekend with MAMA'S NIGHT OUT. 

Just wanted to let you know that the hilarious comedy show (if I do say so myself) MAMA'S NIGHT OUT is coming to the Avalon Theatre, Easton, MD this Friday for a special Mother's Day weekend show.  See here for more details. 

MAMA'S NIGHT OUT is comedy by mothers for everyone.

While out with a few girlfriends last week, we noticed many men and women at the bar. It was 6pm. Obviously, happy hour after work. Honestly, it was a fluke that we were all out together at that time, but it was something that we had planned for some time. Actually, it got us thinking. Within this circle of my friends, we ran the gamut as far as mom 'type'. A few are full-time working moms, one part-time working mom, 2 business owners, and 2 'stay-at-home' moms.  As we started to talk about everything, including the challenges within our Hybrid Mom lives - as we often do, we came up with Hybrid Mom Happy Hour. What a great idea?! Why can't we get 1/2 priced drinks? We simply can't get to the bars and restaurants at 6pm any night of the week. Who will take care of the kids? Doesn't quite make sense to get a babysitter for that - well, at least not every week.  So, after that discussion I called a business relationship that we have in our community. This gentleman owns 12 Ruby Tuesday's in New York. Linda and I proposed the idea to him and he absolutely loved it.  Why am I writing this? Well, I want to hear from iVillage readers. Would you and your friends love a night out? Would you go to Hybrid Mom Happy Hour at a Ruby Tuesday's? It probably would be a Wednesday night from 8pm (after the kiddies are down and the hubby is home) to 11pm. 1/2 priced drinks plus a fun special Hybrid Momtini!!  Now, that sounds like a fun night out! Don't we deserve it?

I would just like to hear your feelings and thoughts and of course any feedback or ideas. Thanks for providing me with a platform enabling me to hear from the great iVillage readers! I look forward to hearing your comments. THANKS!
 

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