SURFER GIRL

In high school, I was the "drama girl..."  Well, a drama nerd, really. With New York University as the institution where I'd end up studying thee-ater (and buying drugs from R.A.'s), the idea of participating in team sports really wasn't  high on my list of priorities. As a child, I wasn't necessarily nonathletic, I was just waaaaay better at drawing, and dress up, and doing impressions. AYSO soccer had no room for a budding young star with a chubby face and chicken legs like me. So, I spent weekends taking art and acting classes, tap and ballet...

But somehow, I got sucked in. For whatever reason, somehow, someway, I DID end up on Track and Cross Country my freshman and sophomore years. I was DEFINITELY not fast, and I was definitely never on varsity. In fact, my biggest claim to running fame was being crowned the Junior Varsity All Champ winner... In....the... 2 Mile. Yes, I ran the 2 mile on track. Know how many people I had to compete against in the all-champ race??? THREE.

Hey, 1 out of 3 ain't bad.

The point is, for a mildly nonathletic (Jewish drama queen from Beverly Hills) with substantial cardiac/strength ability, I do a'ight when I participate in activities that require some sort of physical endurance or coordination. 

I mean SERIOUSLY, if rollerblading was an Olympic sport, I might have had a chance at winning a gold. In 1995. In Central Park. I was good. And, I mean. GOOD. Three words: Lace. Up. Blades.... What's up.

But I digress....

SO, while on our recent vacation in Hawaii, P and I decided to take surfing lessons. 

Imagine Rob Schneider tanned (and toned), with dirty, bleached hair, zinc oxide covering his face, and huge monkey like feet: That was Mike, our surfing instructor. 

For the first 20 minutes of the lesson, he tried to get our names right. 

There were four of us. 

The plan was that we'd each "catch a wave," one at a time. Mike the monkey would find us "a rad one," give us a little push, scream "paddle!" then scream out the steps to standing up on the board. (Yeah... after "here comes a good one" and "paddle," I pretty much couldn't hear anything. The Pacific Ocean is preeeeeetty, pretty loud.) 

I went first... 

... and by "went first," I mean, fell first.

Eventually, however, I caught a wave....

But mostly, I did this: 

And it was worth every bit of the $75 dollars we spent... to give our friends something to laugh about. 

I'm not going to go so far to say that this might be my newest hobby or one that would garner accolades such as the ones I surely could have gotten during my rollerblading through Manhattan hay day.... But I will say I'm GLAD I tried it and would absolutely do it again...  I held in and held on. At 14, I could handle a challenge and at 35 I can handle it too...  Might choose a better bottom for bikini next time... one that doesn't scream "hey, my striped, falling ass, is HERE," but that's a completely different story and post altogether. Whatevs. Mahalo.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: 50 SHADES OF VACATION

I'M A GOOD MOM... IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF

It's nearly midnight and I have about a dozen things left to do.... Tomorrow I leave for an 8 day trip to Hawaii with my boyfriend and another couple. Eight Days. Without my son. 8. The longest I've ever been away from him, and (not withstanding my backpacking/smoking tour through Europe post-college), one of the longest trips I've ever been on in general. Oh wait, I forgot about the cruise to Europe with my family, and the cruise through the Panama Canal too... and the trip to Hungary... Never Mind. I've traveled a lot and for long periods. The point is, never this long away from Jonah.

I'm not going to lie and tell you how tragic and how guilty I feel. I don't feel guilty (which at some point will cause me to feel guilty about not feeling guilty). I feel okay with it. I feel like he's at an age that it's okay, acceptable, appropriate... I feel like not only does he have a dad that loves him and his more than capable of taking care of him, but he has a chance to spend a long period with a dad that loves him and is more than capable of taking care of him: He is lucky. And he's beyond excited for this "extended stay." Plus, we've been talking about this and working up to it for quite some time. What, you don't think I would just spring something on him do you? Please. I am a good mom..... I have and will go to great lengths to stay connected...

See exhibit A. (Well, I'll just tell you about it... because the file is too big and I'm tired). 

Using logos and images of like a palm tree symbolizing me in Hawaii, or a picture of his dad, or a picture of a soccer ball, I made a calendar for him which details every aspect of his day.... Who's picking him up, where he's going, what he's doing and where I am through it all. Not bad, right?

See exhibit B. (Again, you'll need to just trust that I'm doing this).... 

We will likely Skype or Facetime at some point too... 

I mean, not much more I can say about that.

The point is, I'm leaving my son and confident that I've done everything I can to prepare both he and I for this trip. 

So with that, allow me to take this moment to say: I'll post something again the week of the 14th. By then the sound of crashing waves and pina colada refill cravings will have subsided.... along with some of the guilt I'm sure that'll creep up the minute I land... It always does.... It always does....

Have a good week!

eBAY: MAMA IS MOVING!

Some exciting news.... This Month, I/We are moving. New home, new school, new area, new set up... Lots of changes taking place and lots of planning that will need to go in to it. For starters: How to consolidate and merge two homes into one. No need for two couches, two dining room tables, or extra electronics that will never be used... SO, there is going to be some serious selling that is going to take place. I have been doing a lot of research (as a buyer) on furniture listed on eBay and am so pleasantly surprised to see how many "stores" there are selling new and quite affordable pieces. Plus, a lot of them offer free shipping. As a seller, this makes me feel like I have a lot of flexibility and control over purchasing because I can use the money I've built up in my paypal account to make these purchases...  I myself am going to experiment with listing some furniture and things that require more than just a flat rate envelope (Still trying to get the hang of the whole shipping thing... Let's just say the Beverly Hills Postal workers no me and my poor taping skills well). So we shall see what happens with selling these items... (Oh, and yes, at some point this move, this very big move, will get a more in depth and "Perfectly Disheveled" post.... Just hold on!)

In the meantime, another big calendar date is coming up... Mother's Day (aka the day that everyone should kiss my A.) This Mother’s Day eBay is celebrating by ‘Creating New Memories’ with the important mothers’ in their lives. How are they doing this? By hosting a number of social media giveaways, a Twitter party for moms on May 1 (from 12-2 PT) and compiling a gift guide of items that the mothers in your lives might like (a good reference for items to sell right now as well!). 

Check out these different eBay channels to celebrate the moms you love, and win prizes!

•                    Memorable Moments - Facebook photo Sweepstakes with daily winners: http://www.facebook.com/eBay/app_359178360784982

•                    Keep an eye for giveaways on Twitter and Pinterest: www.twitter.com/eBay  (#ebaymom) and http://pinterest.com/ebay/

Sales:

·         Fashion Vault – The Watchery – Mother’s day luxury watches up to 70% off – 4/30 to 5/7. View the sale at: http://fashionvault.ebay.com.

·         eBay Flowers Promotion – Buy ProFlowers through eBay and get $10 to spend on eBay – running 4/18 – 5/12.  Check out http://www.ebay.com/evt/mothers-day-gifts.

Finally, I've been posting all the stuff I'm selling on Pinterest. If you're not already following me or this board, please do so! AND please send any questions you may have about listing, selling or buying on eBay. I'm still learning too, but I know a few peeps that could easily get us the answers we need!

This is a sponsored post.

FORK IT OVER, KID!

I don't know when Jonah's interest in playing with my iPhone went from downloading alphabet games and shape sorters, to downloading Angry Birds and fondue maker (don't ask), but it happened. And happened fast... Just weeks ago, my son was throwing around the word "download" and "install" like nothin', now he's asking me to actually PAY for the app (I guess he can read "Free"?)

When he discovered Angry Birds had various levels, and you need to pay more for certain ones (I think.....?) he begged me to get it for him.  But at $7.99, I paused...  Wait. WAIT! First of all, I need to set some limits on how much he's playing these games and making Slurpees (oh, yes, you know this app? The icee maker? For $2.99 you can have any flavor imaginable).

So I decided, HE needed to pay for it. In the past, we've taken all the change or dollar bills (unless the mommy parking fairy has had to "borrow" some), and gone to the dollar bins at Target to buy a toy or chatchke... But today I thought, NO. This money will actually go in to my pocket (fairly) to cover these Angry Bird costs. I told him he needed $7.99. He sat on the floor with Tricia and counted everything... He had $7.69.  Pretty close. I told him I'd cover the rest. Just as he was about to fork it over, he stopped.

"Wait, I don't want to give up my money. It's a lot of money."
"It is," I said. "Take your time to think about it."
"Okay. I'm going to think about it. Give me some time," he said sweetly.
"You got it," and I walked out of his room.
Twenty seconds later: "Mommy, I thought about it...."
"And...?"
"I don't want to use my money for this."
"Okay, sweetheart....."
"I want you to use YOUR money for this."

AND scene.

Any good recs for free and fun apps? This mama is not forkin' anything over! Yet...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: SUCCESS

Yup. This pretty much sums it up.

eBAY: SPRING CLEANING!

Spring is here... So 'tis time to purge some of mama's wardrobe and make some extra cashola so I can pay for the cute striped maxi that I haaaaaaaad to have. (It's important to be current, isn't it?) So, as they say, "out with the old, in with the new." I considered having a garage sale but with eBay at my finger tips and a knack on selling, I figured it was worth a shot to list some things in my closet that I think are cute for Spring, (see below) and in perfect condition- some even NEW WITH TAGS, that just aren't fitting me right anymore. With visions of myself on a beach in an adorable new tunic and hat, I'm super motivated to sell now. Also, we're actually moving next month so I need all the extra $ I can get. Next month, I'm going to try my hand at listing furniture and major household items like... a TV. Gulp. Wish me luck!

Things I'm currently selling:

-JCrew Drawstring Dress

-French Connection Gray & White Striped Blazer

-Navy Green & Navy Striped Bikini

This is a sponsored/ paid post.