BMG Mom/SoapboxMom is MomentsMom.

This site is several years old.

You can find MomentsMom here.

Thanks.

Please go to SoapboxMom.com

Click here: SoapboxMom.com

As of today, February 10, 2008, BMG Mom is Soapbox Mom. And this Soapboxmom.wordpress.com site has moved to SoapboxMom.com.

It came to me in a dream…

No, not really, I just thought it would be easier for people to remember, become familiar with, I don’t know, it just sounded better to me (and less cumbersome) than Being a Mom is Great!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed a little because the transition was a little bumpy (and that explains why I haven’t been hopping around all your blogs as much as I usually do…).

So thanks for taking the trouble to find me over here. Come, gather ’round and join me in this idyllic, parklike setting (yeah, whatever) so I can comfortably stand on our modern day equivalent of the soapbox (this blog!).

Wahoo!!!

Please go to soapboxmom.com and let me know you found me!!

Thanks!!

If you want to give a unique valentine’s gift to someone who isn’t necessarily nutty about chocolate, I think these little items are great finds!

Here’s the swag bag she gave to the members of Oprah’s studio audience. It includes things like a “Lollipop Tackle Box, gummy bears, gumballs, Smarties, Tootsie Rolls, Laffy Taffy, Mary Janes and a limited edition Pez Princess set and can be yours (or your daughter’s (?)) for only $50:

Or, if you’d like to surprise your wife with a whimsical trinket, you can get a candy charm bracelet for that same price:

I was so amazed at all the adorable items on this website, I just had to include a few more for you.

That’s Dylan’s Candy Bar Makeup Bag Set (above) for all of you travelers that still like a little whimsy (I’m looking at you, Missives) and the little gummy bear bag (below) for less.

Or just a simple, sassy tee with a good message.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

This post may shock people who know me, but when I heard the first lady of California share an Eleanor Roosevelt quote about taking risks (actually, she said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”) I decided this post would be my risk for the day.

Whether you’re a Republican, Independent, or Democrat, I just ask for a few moments of your time (you have to watch it all the way to the end) to watch this video. In all my life, I’ve never seen a candidate (not just the video, more accurately the whole package) that moves me the way this guy does. I can’t help but think that he could do great things for our country.

Ask your kids who they support and who the other kids in their school think should be president. You might be surprised by the answer. Most kids I know (regardless of the party affiliation of their parents) enthusiastically say, “Obama!” Think about that. The little ones who, in many cases, have a closer connection to what’s real, to what matters in life (because they’re free from all the facades and spin and BS) have a passionate affinity for this man.

It seems to me that he’s just the kind of change this country needs.

Let’s not wait for the world to change anymore.

“We are the change we’ve been waiting for.”

— Barack Obama

But there’s one thing in particular that I really appreciate within a kitchen and that’s the faucet. I have this thing with faucets. Here’s my favorite:

It’s made by a company called Dornbracht. You just have to feel this faucet in your hands. It’s extraordinary. Someone once told me that they’re the company that all the other faucet companies copy. This one (pictured above), the Tara Classic, won a couple of awards for design and quality excellence.

They also do faucets for bathrooms.

Speaking of bathrooms, I have the same attraction to faucets in bathrooms, particularly in restaurants. If the bathrooms have a great faucet, I’ll leave with a smile on my face. They can be so cool, you know? Sometimes substantial and strong, stylish and gorgeous.

Aaaah, there’s just nothing like a good faucet.

Name one thing you do everyday:

1. Okay, well, I can’t resist going with PG’s answer here. I eat everyday (and drink water).

Name two things you wish you could learn:

1. To ski really, really well.
2. To play golf really, really well.

Name 3 things that remind you of your childhood:

1. Board games
2. Books
3. Hot chocolate

Name 4 things you love to eat but rarely do:

1. Mashed potatoes
2. Gelato

3. Dark chocolate truffles

Name 5 things/people that make you feel good:

1. My husband
2. My kids
3. Beautiful, bright sunny days

4. Podcasting

5. Writing/reading a really good post or a really good book

Now, here’s where I’m supposed to tag someone, but I’m doing it a little differently this time. If you’d like to join in and do this meme, please do so! If not, no problem.

But, how ’bout going to visit PG’s blog (or just leave a comment).

_______________________

UPDATE: Yay! We have a taker, ladies and gents. Lizzie over at Bizzy Lizzie decided to do this meme! It’s a tag (well, sort of). Anybody else?

I do. Is that childish? Unreasonable? Silly?

My left brain, logical, rational mind says, “Of course it is. Grow up!” But then, my emotional half of the brain says, “No! I mean, what the heck, we go nuts — crazy, out of control, over the top — on kids’ birthday parties and we don’t even wish each other good wishes on the anniversaries of our births? What’s that about?!”

There’s a real imbalance there. I mean I’ve been known to throw my share of fun parties for kids. So, I’m not knocking the parties. I’m just saying that I think parents could help each other out a little bit if they would just show some thoughtfulness and kindness toward each other, even when (or maybe especially when) they know that the person to whom they’re extending the greeting is over 30. Maybe we make those middle ages feel older by letting go of the joy and celebration that surround the birthday parties of childhood.

Here’s what started this little train of thought.

In past years, with more than a handful of people, I’ve experienced something like this:

I send an email telling someone that I can’t meet to discuss some volunteering obligation (for the kids) because it’s my birthday. In response, I get nothin’.

No, “Well, I hope you have a good day.”

No, “Happy birthday, girlfriend!”

No, “Oh, no problem, I wouldn’t want to meet that day, either.”

Not even those two little words, Happy Birthday.

Sure, I’ve sometimes been told that I have too much of a Pollyanna attitude toward life, (what some consider to be an annoyingly positive, silly and cheerful disposition). But I don’t think wishing people who are over 30 or 40 a Happy Birthday is immature or offensive.

Hmmm. On second thought…

Maybe that’s not it at all…

Is it that some people don’t want to even think about their birthday when they’re over 40? So they don’t want to touch the topic at all? Are they afraid of somebody grumbling back at them? What? Enlighten me, please. Gosh, if that’s the case, then…well…I feel sad for them. Who says we have to stop enjoying life at a certain age? Why? Where’s the logic in that? That can’t be healthy. Who knows where that might lead…

Grumpy Old Men (1993)

Notice that I’m not saying anything at all about materialistic goods. I’m not saying that I want my friends and family to purchase the latest must-have handbag or some blingy piece of jewelry. That’s not at all what I’m talking about. It’s about kindness and consideration. Thoughtfulness and sincerity that’s simple and instinctive.

For example, when I went into a store (on my birthday) with my son to select little trinkets to include in his favor bags for his birthday party, he saw something that he thought I would like for my birthday, so he said, “Mom, you should get that…for your birthday. C’mon, it’s your birthday!” A very nice woman overheard him and turned to me and said, “It’s your birthday? Well, Happy Birthday! Yes, you should get that for yourself!” My son and I both smiled and thanked her and as we walked away, he said, “Wow. That was so nice!”

Two simple words.

What a difference. Physically, I felt lighter and stood taller. My thoughts turned to more positive, happy places. I felt grateful for that stranger’s kindness and those two words.

Now I make a point of keeping track of people’s birthdays and wishing them well on their day (unless, of course, they make it clear that they’d rather not be reminded). To each his own. Right?

Well, whenever it’s your birthday, this one’s for you:

_______________________

Images from Google Images. Oh, and by the way, it’s not my birthday.

This little gem is truly a great find.

It takes a little extra planning (before the kids can dive in and start devouring) but it’s well worth it. It’s called Monkey Bread and it’s a mix that’s easy and fun to make. We made the chocolate chip/banana version (by Lollipop Tree). I found it at our Whole Foods store.

Here’s how it works. You prep a 9″ cake pan with a smear of butter, then melt 4 T of butter. While it’s melting, you dump the mix (in a large silver packet) into a bowl and add water. Stir just until blended. Open the other silver packet (filled with raw sugar) and dump that into another bowl.

Let the kids help! Grab little clumps of the sticky dough and roll them around in the sugar. Place the sugared balls into the prepared cake pan. When it’s full, pour the melted butter all over the top, then put it in the oven to bake for about 35 minutes. When it’s ready, take it out and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix some powdered sugar, more butter, vanilla and a little milk together until smooth (the precise measurements are provided on the box). Pour this glaze over the top of the monkey bread and you’re done!

The result is a delectable, relatively healthy breakfast treat that tastes so much better than all those other refrigerator-to-oven breakfast foods.

Oh! And…the company donates a share of the profits to Heifer International!

What’s not to like?

________________

Image from Lollipop Tree’s site.
Please note, I get no compensation or anything from this review, I’m just passing on this info because I think it’s a great find!

The Smile Stone Award.

The wha??

Let me back up a little. Actually, to right here, January 23, 2008.

I was talking to my daughter about a post I wrote on that day. I’d reached an interesting milestone in the blogosphere and wrote a little post about it. After listening to me blabber on about number of visitors, blah, blah, blah, she quickly reminded me that I’ve always said to her that I wasn’t concerned about how many people read my posts, rather, I was more interested in providing good content. I was trying, I always told her, to disregard the stats and to focus on the substance. Well…then the conversation went something like this:

DD: “But Mom, I thought the number of visitors was not your main concern…”

BMG Mom: “Right. Well, it’s not, really. It’s just that I happened to notice it and thought it was interesting, so I wrote a post about it.”

DD: “Oh. Okay. Whaddya call it?”

BMG Mom: “This Milestone Fills Me with Gratitude.”

DD: “What smilestone? What is a smile stone? And why would it fill you with gratitude?”

BMG Mom: (chuckling) “Nooooo….milestone…it’s a milestone…it’s…hey, wait a minute…that’s a great idea!!”

And the Smile Stone Award began to bloom.

She found it so amusing that she set to work to help create it. She found the clipart, filled in the taglines and voila! Here it is:

For me, it really is about the people who take the time to read my posts and comment on my (often wacky) observations, ruminations and ideas. It’s about the ones who seem to care, who make me laugh, who give me support just when I need it and encourage me when I feel discouraged. I’ve learned so much in these five or six months from people I’ve known for a shorter period of time than my kids’ gestation periods. So, this is my way of showing my gratitude and providing a little something to (I hope) make them smile, too.

And now…

Without further adieu, I present the first group* of Smile Stone awardees:

Jim at The Busy Dad Blog

Deb at Missives from Suburbia

Dan at Cafe Leone

Lotus at Sarcastic Mom

Piper at Bliss in Bloom

Ann** at A Nice Place in the Sun

Pete at My GPS Camera Phone

Kim at Jogging in Circles

Momo at MomoFali’s

Tara at If Mom Says Ok

Chuck at D is for Dad

and

Ellen at Positive Communication.

Thanks for making the world (or at least the blogosphere) a better place.

_______________________

**Ann gets a special mention for providing inspiration – she gave me an award called the You Cheer Me Up award. Thanks again, Ann!! She’s been an inspiration in many ways and is a generous, talented blogger who spreads loads of sunshine and happiness.

*Please realize you don’t have to do anything except accept the award. I just wanted to do something fun (arguably a little wacky, maybe even cheesy) and recognize some outstanding blogs, each of which offers something quite different to the web.

Note: I somehow lost the last half of the group, but have added them back now (sorry about that!!)