Haven't done this in awhile, but I'm trying to actually read blogs again. Remember that? And here are a few gems you need to read this week:
So cute: What Disney Movie Does Your Blog Resemble?
I want to be this mom: Be a Yes Mom!
Another good reminder: How to Really Fight for Your Marriage
This is so my life: A Beautiful Mess
I can totally relate to this: Work, Work All Week Long
And OH how I relate to this: But I Don't Feel Gentle
*comments are now closed. congratulations to our winner!*
As a Ralph Lauren Mombassador, I recently got to design my own polo shirt! SO fun! Ralph Lauren offers you can chance to Create Your Own Polo and put your personal twist on their signature style.
I got one for my son, Colin, because while the girls colors were sweet, I personally think that there is not much cuter than a little boy in a Ralph Lauren Polo. (See photographic proof to the left.) And Colin loves them because he looks “just like Daddy!” He opened up the box and started yelling, “Daddy, Daddy! LOOK! Just like your shirt!”
Colin got to pick his own colors – he chose black with orange, which I have to say was very cool (clearly he inherited Mama’s sense of style)! And I loved the little card that it came with, saying that this shirt was created especially for you!
Here’s how it works! Click here to visit Ralph Lauren’s Create Your Own site. Then work through the selections. There are a TON of combinations and its really easy!
The shirt came out so adorable – this would make such a great birthday present! Look at how cute my boy is:
This shirt was definitely a hit! Colin liked it so much, he slept in it the day it arrived because he refused to take it off!
Ralph Lauren is giving one lucky Girlymama reader the chance to experience the “Create Your Own Polo” program with Ralph Lauren. Here’s how to enter:
Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment telling me who you want to design your shirt for!
Extra Entry #1: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me you subscribed to Girlymama’s feed by email or in a reader.
Extra Entry #2: Leave another comment telling me you became a Girlymama Facebook fan!
Extra Entry #3: Leave another comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting about it on your blog or Facebook, or Tweeting about it.
Contest ends Friday, March 4th at noon. Entries such as “Enter me” or “I want to win” will NOT be counted. Winners will be selected by Random.org, announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions. If I don’t hear from the winner in 48 hours, I will be choosing a new winner.
disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and received a Ralph Lauren CYO shirt to facilitate my review.
Did you do a fashion post today? Link on up!!
One week ago, my husband and I were rudely awoken at 1:00 in the morning by a beeping. My husband's little battery-operated portable alarm clock was going off. It wasn't on his nightstand, so we stumbled around the room, but it shut back off before we could find it.
This is not the first time this has happened – Colin, being male, is fascinated by things with buttons and numbers and likes to play with this clock. He has dropped it by the nightstand several times.
But it wasn't by the nightstand. We couldn't find it. And the same thing happened the next night. And the next night. And the next night. And the next night.
FOR OVER A WEEK.
It seemed to be coming from the closet. Or maybe the bookcase. Or maybe under the bed.
We couldn't figure it out. First, because it goes off at 1:00 in the morning when we are not particularly alert and quick thinking. And second, because it would go off just long enough for us to wake up, get out of bed and start trying to follow the sound… but then it would stop before we could find it.
I've looked everywhere! Under the bed, under everything, I tore apart my closet, lifted up the mattress, EVERYWHERE. But last night I decided I was going to find this alarm clock if it killed me. I began taking everything out from under the bed, looking inside every box and bag. (Um, we have a lot of stuff under our bed.)
Finally, I took out the gorgeous oriental carpet we have rolled up and stored under the bed to keep it safe from the children. Guess what slid out?
The missing alarm clock. Set for 1:00 in the morning exactly.
(okay – semi-wordless) A friend sent us these pictures from Haiti, ones that actually have my husband in them!
The fact that he spent his vacation doing this confirms that I married the most amazing guy on earth.
Today you are eight. You're so very very big. I see every day I'm reminded that you're getting older, leaving bits of childhood behind.
Don't grow up too soon, baby girl. Not too soon.
Keep climbing trees, keep believing your stuffed animals have feelings, keep hiding your blankey under your pillow, keep chasing fireflies, keep dancing in front of the mirror and never ever stop believing you're a princess.
Happy Birthday, my sweet Ellie.
I've had lots of requests for this. So we proudly present…. The Best Buddies Song.
(Reality check: they were fighting again within minutes of this film. If only these moments could last forever!)
So, I was on NBC Philadelphia Wednesday. I didn’t tell you before now because I’ve been too busy
1. Trying to figure out what to wear.
2. Trying not to throw up.
Just kidding! I was trying not to faint!
So I survived my first attempt at live television without ending up as a viral YouTube hit, so I’m happy! It actually was a lot of fun. It was fascinating to be a part of a live broadcast and I actually wasn’t nervous. Well, I was DYING of nerves in the Green Room, but once I sat down and got miked, I was fine. Tracy Davidson was lovely and she had KILLER shoes on. I’m so mad that I never got to ask her where they were from. Humph.
Now… what did I wear? I confess that I had about 6 outfits in the running. And that I gave this WAYYYY too much thought.
I ended up wearing:
After much deliberation, I decided on this Abstract Print shell from Loft. I wanted something bright and girly, but not with lots of ruffles or anything that would be distracting. And I paired it with this
Front Pocket Cardigan also from Loft. I needed something in a solid color that wasn’t light or black. Pink seemed appropiate. I am “Girlymama” after all 😉
Dojo Flare Leg Trouser Jean from 7 for All Mankind are my go-to jeans. I didn’t want to be too dressed up, so a trouser jean was perfect!
My Twist Toe Wedges from Target. Because I didn’t want to trip or fall down or anything.
Pink Briolette Cluster Earrings from Loft. Because they’re pretty.
Did you do a fashion post today? Link up!!
Gracie: I wish Daddy wasn’t married.
Me: What? Why?
Gracie: Because I can’t marry him when he’s already married!!!
(heart melting)
Ellie studied for weeks for her big math facts test. Every night she practiced and practiced, getting better and better. She was ready. She was so excited. She couldn’t wait to show her teacher how much better she had gotten at her math facts.
We sent her off to school brimming with confidence and a smile on her face.
She got off the bus and, the second she made eye contact with me, she burst into tears.
Through her tears, she told me she had gotten her worst math facts score ever.
And I was left with a little girl, sobbing, and asking why. Why – when she had worked so, so hard – had she still gotten such a terrible score?
My heart was breaking for her. What could I say?
I told her I was proud of how hard she had worked. I told her that she had done her best and tried really hard, but sometimes we all have bad tests. I held her, dried her tears and kissed her forehead. Then (since her brother was banging on the bedroom door at this point yelling “MOM! HEY MOM!”) I tucked her into my bed with her favorite book and a little snack for some quiet time on her own.
She’s fine. Its not a big deal. It is – after all- just a math test. And failing is a part of growing up. You can build up your kids confidence all you want – but they are going to fail sometimes. Not everyone is good at everything. Not everyone always wins. Not everyone always gets an “A.”
And I know this is just the beginning – this will happen numerous times as she grows up and it surely doesn’t get any easier. Watching her try so hard and fail was unbelievably difficult. I can only imagine when this begins to happen with things that do matter… unlike this little math test.
I guess my job as a mom is just to pick her up, dust her off and give her the courage to keep trying. Even when I don’t have the courage myself.
Article first published as The Lessons of Failure on Technorati.
