Saturday, April 10, 2010

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Hello!  Although I am not really a new mom blogger (I have been blogging since August of 2008), I am a sort-of-newish public blog mama since February of 2010.  Don't ask me why I felt the need to suddenly go public with my blog, I'm not sure I really have a reason for it.  I do know that it seems like a fairly healthy way to have a midlife crisis, right?

Anyway, if you are dropping by to join the party, please overlook the dog fur and kid toys -- I've got two of each and trying to pretend they don't exist is pointless.  Grab a seat, but don't be surprised if my son begs to play Star Wars guys with you or my daughter drags you to the kid-sized table where she's sticking glittery stickers to a piece of pink construction paper.  Or if my husband kidnaps you to the basement where we're keeping our first brood of Buff Orpington chicks, at least until he gets the coop built.  Did you know that they have automatic chicken coop doors?  I didn't know that until yesterday, either.

My life is pretty ordinary, and I'm sure that is the biggest reason I didn't go public with my blog when I first started writing.  I was a good student, married my college sweetheart, moved to a mid-Atlantic state when he was in graduate school, returned to Iowa when he was offered a job about 35 miles from where he grew up -- a big surprise for us because he's a theatre designer and this is, well, this is Iowa.  We got a dog, bought a little house, gutted it, got another dog, and renovated the house.

Then we decided to start a family.  After an ectopic pregnancy, we had our wonderful son in June of 2005 and made him the big brother of a little sister in September of 2007.  We are currently battling unexpected secondary infertility.  I swallowed my first dose of Clomid about an hour ago.  I don't feel any more fertile yet...

This past November, we bought a big old farmhouse out in the country.  This has been a bit of an adjustment for us (mice.  Mice.  Mice!  MICE!), though we are eager to put in a gi-gundous garden this spring and, as I said, we have a small flock of chickens started in the basement.  Because organic brown eggs sound super, don't they?

Here are some of my quirks:
1.  I like to be funny.  Sarcastic, even -- I know, SHOCKER!  If you don't want to read a blog where the author admits her shortcomings and pokes fun at herself, you shouldn't read mine. 
2.  I like to write.  I've never hosted a give-away, nor have I monetized my blog.  Yet.  If I end up pregnant with Clomid quintuplets, I might have to change that policy.
3.  I am a fan of the chain description: words-tied-together-with-hyphens-to-make-a-funny-run-on-point.  Yep.  I like me my hyphens...  And ellipses...
4.  I like comments.  OK, who doesn't.  I follow up diligently. Really, I do!
5.  I'm a lunch-hour blogger, so if my schedule gets keee-razy, I don't get a chance to give my blog or bloggy friends the love.  I hope you can forgive me, but I gots-ta pay the bills.  My hubby works in arts education, 'nuff said.
6.  I try to be positive and witty and clever, but the struggle we've had trying to conceive baby #3 has stretched my good humor to the limit.  Some of my more recent posts were a little darker than I would normally write.  But, since I am above all an honest blogger, writing something that was all cheery and rah-rah-rah when I was feeling blah-blah-blah was resoundingly fake, so I didn't do it. 

Here are some of my most favorite posts:
Malfunctioning Bedroom Devices
Brontophobia: Fear of Storms
Sleep

In case my blog gets pulled for a prize, here are my top three choices:

US6 – Hand Stamped Personalized Necklace valued at $48 The Double Stacked A Lot Of Love.
Provided by: Kristen’s Custom Creations  I lved this design and don't have any mother's jewelry!


US97 – One winner will receive a beautiful handmade wire and colorful bead necklace from the mission-driven company, Ana Patricia!  just thought this was so much fun!

USC 10 – One winner will receive a beautiful handmade glass pendant with their choice of chain. The piece is made by me with care using glass and paper.  The design I will give away is called “Lilac“.  I fell in love with this -- so very pretty!

Other prizes in which I'm interested: US39, US44, US66, US110, and USC19.  My son is 4 and daughter is 2, so anything appropriate for them is fine, too!

18 comments:

Unknown said...

More in common that first thought...

i live on an acreage and have the ginormous garden in progress. I also have a greenhouse. Please write about your chick brooding experience, as i hope to have a coop next season. This season i'll be happy to learn from those doing it already.

Nice to meet you!

Unknown said...

Stopping by from the UBP! I enjoyed visiting your site. I blog at nap time! My son would love having chickens in the basement!

Bethany said...

Welcome to the party! Girl, you need a cat! We've never had a mouse in the house (or seen in the yard, even), yet everyday, my cats bring dead ones to the porch. It's really disgusting, but I'd rather they be dead outside, than alive inside.

Anonymous said...

Hi
Good to meet you. I lived in IA (Sioux City) for 3 yrs. Surprisingly, we loved it and have wonderful friends there still. You are funny and poignant too. Please stop by www.motherlylaw.com when you get a chance. Thanks, Anna from www.motherlylaw.com

Jenn said...

Hope you are having a good time at the UBP! Have fun with those chicks!!

Jenni ("Miss Tutu")
My UBP blog post: How to Make a Tutu blog - hope you will stop by, say hi, and sign-up for your free tutu lesson! :) and Mom Blogger $100 Cash Contest

Susie Buetow said...

Toot Tootin' the #UBP10 Party Horn!!!

I'm your newest blog follower! I know you are uber excited! haha

Stop in and toot your horn!!!

@Susieqtpies
at Scraps of Life http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com

The Artful Hawaiigirl said...

Mid-western Mama, I like how you write about your "ordinary life". I am sure that there is nothing ordinary about it. Moving back to hte small town, gutting an old farm house, kids, chickens and dogs are all pretty interesting to me. I'm a Hawaii based blogger originally from california. I'm a nurse but not practicing as I now help my husband full time as office manager for our small construction company. I love to write too and did three books you can se them at the web-site and this ubp10 thing has been a blast but work!!!

Unknown said...

Love your blog and really enjoyed my visit.
I think this is my 3rd year. Not sure but really enjoy meeting new bloggers.
Great prizes this year! I hope you win one..or two.
I was late too but fashionable late for the UBP 2010.

IASoupMama said...

LOL, Bethany! I am so allergic to cats that it's not even funny... Well, maybe I do look a little funny gasping for breath and covered with hives, hehehe...

Welcome to everyone new who has stopped by my blog! I'm visiting yours now, so be on the lookout for one chunky, sleepy, and obnoxiously coughing mama! (dang sinus infection, dislike)

Plowlady said...

Coming from the UBP -- I have met so many new bloggers out there! Hi there and you have a wonderful blog here, I am having tons of fun surfing through it! I am #986 Blog, #734 Twitter & #462 Facebook

Plowlady said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today...enjoy your week too!! :-)

Unknown said...

Just wanted to say HI from the UBP!!!! Looking forward to getting to know you better.

Would love to have you come by our place: http://inspiredgiftsblog.blogspot.com

Eric and Kristine said...

How fun to read your blog! I am coming here from the UBP10! Here's to us winning something! If you have time check out my blog at: http://littlelifeinmine.blogspot.com/

Good Luck!

Susan said...

Hi! Just stopping by for the party! It is nice to meet you. Please stop by my blog anytime. I love visiters!

Anonymous said...

Outstanding article, a bunch of fine knowledge. I am going to point out to my girlftriend and ask them the things they think.

Anonymous said...

I THINK i was one of the test subjects, and boy did i like the probing!!!

Anonymous said...

This is the 2nd instance I have encountered your site in the last few weeks. Seems like I ought to take note of it.

Anonymous said...

Nice one! If I could write like this I would be well chuffed. The more I read articles of such quality as this (which is rare), the more I think there might be a future for the Net. Keep it up, as it were.