A Unique and Special Holiday Gift!

Now that Halloween is past...the skunk costume has been washed and put away....Our Jack-o-lantern was spared a smashing on the street by rowdy children...only to get a more ceremonial depositing in the trashbin....

Thanksgiving is 3 Weeks away.....but even with thoughts of Candied Yams and Maple Glazed Turkey dancing through my head....I also am jumping further into the holiday season by delving into the ever expansive Christmas Shopping List!

Dum Dum Dum......

This Season....my goal is to A) not wait until Dec 21st to get my final gifts bought B) Stick within our pre-set financial budget and C) make the gifts this year thoughtful and special!

Well this morning I can say I've accomplished all three....and gotten my parents and my husbands parents done and done! (thank goodness they don't read this blog)

Being an Etsy Seller....I am also an AVID Etsy Shopper...especially late at night.....when everyone else is sleeping....I my esteemed opinion...it really is THE place to get your holiday shopping done....I can find anything and everything...and event things I didn't know I wanted or needed...but do!

Over the summer I tagged a great shop called Erin Jane Shop. Erin McNulty makes adorable illustrations and prints that are fun, whimsical and unique. I absolutely ADORE her custom family tree prints....they are fantastic....

So imagine my surprise as I'm perusing my October issue of Better Homes and Gardens...when I notice a shout out to her shop! Fantastic.....now I really need to put a jump on it before the rest of the world gets wind of my special find....

So Today I ordered Two Family Trees....I am so thrilled as I know how much our families will LOVE these....They are truly a one of a kind...!

So if you are looking for a special and unique gift idea that is easy on the wallet...but big on heart...this is it!

The View Looking down...and the View Looking Up!

Are Both fantastic views if you ask me....


Hanging with Mr Noie the other afternoon....on a bright, warm autumn afternoon....I was so glad I brought the camera for a mini photoshoot.....



Looking Down at Mr Noie....I feel like my whole world revolves around this one little cutie-patootie till he tooties package......

Then....while getting into my naturalist self (sans-naked)....and while taking a picture and hugging a tree simultaneously....Your view completely changes....



Looking up at this tree....that is older than me...older than my parents, grandparents...and probably Willard Scott...It makes me realize how small I really am.....and how REALLY small Mr Noie is....



I love those days....where you come away with some good perspective.....

And what else gives me great perspective? MY 10 FAVE Blogs of the Week.....



Mom Squad Blog

It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy

Show My Face

3 Bedroom Bungalow

2 Brits, 2 Yanks and 2 Dogs

SugarPie Farmhouse

Carolyn...Online

I'm Living Proof That God Has a Sense of Humor

Baby Bangs

The Life and Times of Mommy

I am So Excited! I've Been Awarded

I have to say, I've been a horrible Bloggy Buddy Lately....I blame it solely on halloween candy overdoses on an almost daily basis, that has made me remiss in being active in bloggy duties....

Which makes me even more Humbled and Honored to have received a Fabulous Bloggy Award from Two Fabulous and Amazing Bloggers


I Received the Your Blog is Beutiful/Best Blog Award! This is always one of my favorites....because it is given with heart and sincerity!

Though the "your blog is one hot mama" award is pretty freaking cool too!


Leigh Vs. Laundry and Simply Me are TWO must read blogs, and I'm so excited that they have chosen to bestow their awards upon me!

Now I have to pick some other amazing bloggy friends to pass these on to....and I have to say, that is soooo hard!

Here Goes!


Headaches,Hormones and HotFlashes

Trying Our Best

I've Changed My Name to Mommy

LouLou's Views

S Club 4

Mama Notes

When Heather Met Blog

Baby Making Machine

Be Serious

Sippy Cup Chardonney

These Fabulous Bloggers....are so deserving of these and Many Many More!

A Fabulous Surprise Giveaway : Your Secret Stork DiaperBag

I hope you will remember my review post a week ago, that focused on a super cool, totally unique Company Called Your Secret Stork. There mission is to create a special and custom gifting experience for a new mommy to be...by allowing you as the gifter to anonymously send a special gift once a month, before having your final gift be your big reveal. You can choose from 3 to 6 month packages that range from $45 to $90. Very reasonable and very special. As I mentioned before, how fabulous for a second, third or fourth pregnancy, when there most likely won't be a shower.

I can't help saying again how impressed I am with their concept, and the feedback I've gotten from so many happy customers...A perfect way to celebrate an upcoming addition to a family!

Well, let me tell you, not only do they help gift new mommies with fabulous swag, but they want to gift YOU one of my readers with a super chic Black and White Paisley Monogrammed Diaper Bag!

Choose from two styles, one with a black handle or a Fabulous Funky Pink Handle! You also will be able to get it monogrammed for you, or as a gift!

To Enter

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Your Secret Stork and tell Me another item you would LOVE to gift a mommy to be with!

Extra Entries

1. Follow Project Mommyhood

2. Follow Me on Twitter and Tweet This Giveaway (leave link in comment)

3. Blog this Giveaway and link to Your Secret Stork (leave link to post in comment)

4. Buy a Your Secret Stork Gifting Package and Get 5 Entries!

Contest is open to US residents only. Contest runs from Nov 2 until Nov 16 @ 11:59 pm PST

Winner has 48 hours to respond with Address before another winner is chosen!

Halloween with My Little Stinker

Once there was a stink bug that marched up to a skunk
He said inch per inch I’ve got more stench even though I’m much more shrunk

You prance around with so much pride at the damage you can do
You lift your tail and free a smell that could turn a red rose blue

Just because you’re bigger doesn’t mean your better
Just because I’m lighter doesn’t mean I’m just a feather

one little distant thunder doesn’t always mean bad weather
Your bark is much worse than your bite just like an Irish Setter

The skunk said my little friend those are such strong words
I think you’ll find in a short time that they were absurd

I would bet you’ve never yet been blasted by a skunk
If you had you’d know how bad and long you would have stunk

The stink bug said go ahead and spray me your worst
The skunk turned around, ready to astound, and gave a mighty burst

The stink bug laughed and then he asked “Is that the worst you’ve got?”
When they were giving noses out with stink bugs they forgot

A Day Down On The Farm!

Nothing helps bring out the inner Cow-Poke in us City Folk....better than a day down at our local corner farm....I mean what could be better on a Fabulous, Sunny, Autumn afternoon...than Hayrides, pumpkin picking, Sunflowers, stinky yet utterly cute farm animals and hanging out on one Super Sized...Super Cool Tractor!

There has to be something said about spending the day...getting in touch with our roots...communing with land....and finding enjoyment and entertainment with it's offered bounty. I highly recommend it to all...young and old...and especially to all you indoor enthusiasts....I promise that your 800 hours of recorded shows on your DVR or the latest mission of World Of Warcraft has nothing on getting your hands dirty...and breathing in the smell of cow poop and sunflowers....

Then to savor that feeling you get when after an hour of searching for that one perfect pumpkin....you finally find it....still there waiting just for you to pick...there really isn't anything else quite like it...

I loved our day down on the farm...a day where we just loved being together...as a family....It was time away from all that calls our attention....those day to day things that make us put "us" time on the back burner. It was a day where when Juice leaves again for another deployment in 2 months, we have stored away for when we start feeling a tad bit lonely.





Who knew....that one tractor....a bunch of hay....2 pumpkins...lots of dirt and 1 sunny day could be such a remarkable thing!

Reason # 234 that I am NOT a Perfect Mommy!

I have to say, it's almost liberating in a way being able to write and say....(outloud to myself only) that I am NOT a PERFECT mother....and I'm thinking liberating in a take off my bra and burn it in the back yard sense of the word....

I'm sure many of you my fellow mommies....and even those who are not yet...but have thoughts, ideas...or plans of such know what I'm talking about...living the mantra of "I Want to Be the Perfect Mom"....or at least "I Want To Be One Hell of a Mom".....with an occasional "Better than My Mom was"....

I remember when my little Pea-Pod was doing back flips in my SUPER sized belly...and as I rubbed it and whispered to him....I would frequently mention that I planned on being the perfect mommy for him....where I would be a constant source of stimulation, knowledge, patience, and so on...and so forth....Images of a utopain life flashing before my sleep deprived eyes...

18 months later.....I am beginning to rack up things that definitely show myself that I am not a perfect mother....and that there is NO way on this earth...that such a feat is possible....

and whoever started this whole PERFECT mother campaign should be taken out and flogged!

Today I've now written down #234 of why I am not a perfect mother....I cannot be a source of constant stimulation for my child....

and OMG...what a sigh of relief that is....I for the longest time tried to be available and 100% involved in every minute that my son was awake....from playtime...or story time...to park runs...I was in it to win it...and also secretly yearning for nap times or bedtime....which in turn, made me extremely guilty and ashamed. Wow...I can't wait for my son to go to sleep...Black mark for me...

After some time of pondering, observing...and of course the old calling my mom for advice trick...I noticed my son really doesn't WANT my being in his bizness 24 hours a day....I noticed that if I was in the other room...folding laundry or having the ever coveted bathroom break...my son was happy...doing his own thing...

HOLY COW...my son is independent....Wait...isn't that what I want? Absolutely...I realized...that by me forcing this PERFECT mom rule on my child, I was in turn actually trying to create a super dependent child...

It's amazing actually, as I learn new things each day, especially about my pre-parental beliefs...and how the reality of being a parent is turning out to be so different...I need to not put such high expectations on myself. I need to trust myself...and have faith in my child...that he is capable of being his own companion...and is happy being alone.

Not only am I allowing my child to become a well adjusted person, but I am giving myself the time to multi-task and be happy with my other duties as a Wife, Mother and Homemaker. I don't feel like I have to cram the house duties until naptime or bedtime...leaving myself little to no time for ME...




Every day I am learning that being NOT SO PERFECT is actually a Pretty PERFECT thing.....