Finding the Learning in Everything & Surviving Motherhood Using 2 Hands & 2 Feet

I love Valerie Bertinelli. I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s her likeable and down to earth personality. Maybe it’s because I’m fascinated with her Hollywood lifestyle and marriage to a rock star. Maybe it’s because she starred in One Day at a Time and I identified with her character. Either way, I’ve always been a fan of Valerie’s. (Yes, we are on a first name basis now).

I had to watch her guest co-host on The View today.

The ladies were discussing Barbara Walter’s final pre-Oscar celebrity special. On it she interviews Mo’Nique and Sandra Bullock. Both said their husbands were very important forces in their lives. Mo’Nique said she believed in open marriage. I can strongly state that I don’t believe in open marriage for myself. I can’t see how allowing others into your bond, your partnership, your family could possibly strengthen it over weaken it. But hey, if it works for Mo’Nique, I’m not judging.

As for having a supportive, life changing husband, I agree with. Mine is my rock. He is my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, a partner to laugh with. He above all, supports me in everything I do, even if he doesn’t agree with it. He will tell me the pants I have on make me look fat or if I have a booger. This is all good. I’d rather look ridiculous in front of him, because I know he loves me, even with a booger in my nose, instead of in front of the harsh public. I definitely don’t need people laughing at my atomic wedgie behind me in the mall.

I only hope I come close to being as strong for him as he is for me. I’m not sure I will ever attain that status. I will, however, always let him know he has a booger. Snickering included.

Thanks D for being my wonderful, dear husband. You have brightened my life in countless ways since we met and I don’t know what I would do without you.

If you missed my BFF Valerie on The View, you can watch the episode on ABC.Go.com.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

I am so excited to announce that I was chosen by Mom Central to be a Brand Ambassador for The View. I love The View and try to sneak it in when I can. I don’t get to see every episode due to my work schedule and children, but I watch snippets when I can and keep it recording on my DVR.

I have always enjoyed Joy Behar and her insightful comments. I haven’t had a chance to check out her new show, maybe I should put that on my DVR too.

The View made it’s best decision by bringing on Whoopi Goldberg. I have always been a fan of Whoopi, but find her voice of reason on The View so refreshing, positive and most importantly true. Whoopi speaks not to politics, politicians or what’s polite. She says it as it is, doesn’t hold punches and puts it out there. Maybe Whoopi should run for public office.

Joy and Whoopi are my favorites, but I love all the girls, their Hot Topics and guests. I can’t wait to hear what will be discussed each day on The View.

Now you can win a trip to New York City with a friend to watch a taping of The View. Fill out the Mom Central survey by February 28th for a chance to win.

For a schedule or more on The View, check out their website.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

As I continue to plan my first science fair, I’m learning a lot about the process. So far, my biggest challenge has been to just get kids to sign up. At first, I only had four kids signed up. I had to extend the deadline to try and get more kids.

It isn’t an easy task, convincing elementary age children that committing to extra work and research after school and on the weekends is good for them. It also isn’t easy to convince parents that science fair isn’t the daunting, overwhelming task it appears to be.

After all, last year, I was one of those parents. I had a first grader who loved science and I myself had never participated in a science fair when I was younger. I had no idea where to start and I definitely didn’t understand the difference between performing an experiment and doing a science fair project. I remembered something about the scientific method but couldn’t name a step if I had to.

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The bag collection I have in my garage. And I don't even like them.

I try to live green. I don’t always do it as well as I want, or as good as my friend Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess, but I do work hard not to pollute the environment or have a huge carbon footprint. One of my biggest pet peeves is plastic bags.

I hate them. I was happy when Whole Foods Market made a stand and eliminated plastic bags from their stores.

I have to admit, I am guilty of occasionally leaving them in my car and not going to get them because it involves dragging the kids back out of the store and into the parking lot. But I own several reusable bags and I prefer their sturdiness and practicality over the one-use plastic bags. At the mall, I bring my reusable bags. I don’t need a bag from Target or Children’s Place or any other store in the mall that will be thrown away (or recycled) when I get home. I feel guilty using them.

That said, when I bring my reusable bags, I expect to use them. This seems so trivial, but I’ve reached the end of my understanding with why baggers at the grocery store have such a hard time using them. It’s like they are programmed to use as many plastic bags as possible on every order. Maybe this is the training they ALL receive.

I shopped at Safeway today. I usually shop at Safeway. I was busy with my 4-year-old and getting her out of the cart, etc and I didn’t watch my groceries being bagged. When I got to my car, I realized 2 of my reusable bags were full, but two were empty with plastic-bagged groceries on top of them. Now, maybe they weren’t seen at first, even though I handed them to the bagger before he started.

I’ve had to coach baggers through my grocery bagging by telling them they can put more than 3 items in my sturdy bags. Heck, if they aren’t tomatoes or bread, they can pack those bags to the brim. They can handle it and I’m capable enough to lift them. The baggers seem shocked and uncomfortable filling the bags. They look at me with disbelief as I smile and nod as they put more and more groceries in the bag.

I look away, and come home with my bread in a plastic bag inside my reusable bag. They can’t seem to help themselves. Even with my reusable bags, I almost always come home with a plastic bag.

National Geographic is on my side too. They have a post about plastic grocery bags and the over-consumption of them. If you hate plastic bags as much as I do, visit one of my favorite sites, ReusableBags.com. They have a ton of options for bags, bottles and containers. My favorites are the Wrap-N-Mat sandwich wraps. They have replaced plastic sandwich bags in lunches for us.

Does this happen to you? Are you a bag junkie or do you try to reuse? How do I get my baggers to understand that I don’t want plastic bags at all. Ever. Yes, I’m a freak of nature and don’t want the bags. But really, I DON’T WANT THEM.

From the producers of Disney On Ice, this fun-packed production is performing at the Wells Fargo Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on February 5 & 6, 2010

Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and your favorite Disney friends for a hilarious talent search in the all-new Disney Live! Rockin’ Road Show! Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy set out on a zany road trip where audiences join in and help find the coolest acts around. Along the way, hit a high note with Cinderella; get your bounce on with Tigger; and shout out your loudest “yee-haw” at a hoedown with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story! Grab your family for a fun-filled getaway at this live, show-stopping adventure jam-packed with unexpected twists, turns and hijinks -right in your hometown!

Playing Wells Fargo Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on February 5 & 6, 2010! Get your tickets today at Ticketmaster.com!

SAVE! $3 per ticket with special code KIDS

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