Jenny the Bloggess is a rockstar. (Now I must warn you that I’ve already given you the most valuable link in this post.) She regularly does a weekly round-up of all the other bits and bobs she’s written around the Interwebs each week, and I wanted to try it for RookieMoms. Well, I tried it, and it is a big jumble of unrelated random links. There was no story. I felt like I was shoving URLs down your throat.
Then I tried to spice it up with real-life stories so it would feel like we were buddies just catching up. Now, I don’t know what I’ve written. Behold my collection of stuff not worth scrapbooking.
In real life:
Yesterday, my children were playing with this awesome 3D sidewalk chalk in front of our house. Sidewalk chalk is probably my favorite outdoor toy because I can just sit there rather than chasing a ball into the street. (Did I mention I’m pregnant?) The 3D glasses made it extra fascinating to enjoy each other’s creations float into the air. I had enough time between drawing a super rocket ship and some groovy circles to zone out completely.
Over the weekend, Whitney’s family visited friends and family in San Luis Obispo, CA. She told me that Julian’s Kindergarten teacher suggested he seek out the infamous Gumball Alley. Whitney hadn’t been there since she was a kid. Remembering the excitement she used to have for the place, she gave each member of her family a piece of gum to chew in the car, so that when they arrived they could add to the layers and layers of gum that the community has, um, saved there over the years. She claims that she plans to retrieve her piece this summer. Ewww. (I know, you’re judging me, not her.)
In other news, Whitney proved her BFF status by combing through my hair with the Terminator Nit/Lice comb to check for bugs, eggs, nits. She found nits. In my hair. We are no longer lice rookies. Our biggest tip to you: if you are going to send your kids to school ever, buy one of these magic combs now and have it on hand. May keeping it on a high shelf prevent any itchy bugs from entering your home.
On the retail therapy front, I am cautiously reporting that yesterday I spent an ungodly amount of money on a pair of AG maternity jeans. If they are not my favorite jeans for the next 12 to 18 months, I’m going to have a total fit. Remind me to tell you about the lessons of maternity jeans and premium denim another time.
On BabyCenter:
We write once a week on BabyCenter’s Momformation blog. Sometimes we spill some news over there that we forget to share back here. Some recent posts:
- Lice is what happens when you’re busy making other plans (Spring Break dreams dashed with some helpful tips in the comments!)
- Do you go out? And, if not, is it because you feel too poor to go on dates?
- Becoming a rookie soccer mom (Advice sought!)
On SafetyAtHome:
Did you know we write three times a week over at safetyathome.com/blog? Here are a few recent highlights:
- Creating a safer home for you new baby
- Is your disaster plan up-to-date?
- Warts and all (AKA the magic of duct tape) and with that we’re no longer kid-wart-rookies either!
- What to carry in your purse
- Things my kids have never seen
So between the lice, the gum, and the warts, I hope I haven’t scared you off. Go ahead tell us your own gross story — it will make me feel better.
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Since I already follow The Bloggess, the most helpful link in this post is the lice comb! And as a curly girl, I am super worried about not being able to see lice in my hair.
On the safety article (things my kids have never seen), my kids have seen a phone that plugs directly to a jack. We have one in our emergency kit and we test it out each spring when hurricane season starts. Losing power = losing phone if you only use cordless.
@LauraC, I have very curly hair too. I cannot believe that Whitney did all the hair-pulling required to check out my scalp. And I looked AWFUL afterward. I should post a picture of that horror somewhere. I’ve been wearing mini Princess Leia buns (more like donut holes) and pigtails all week.
I’ve totally been to the Gum Wall!! A very good friend of our family lives in San Luis Obispo.
No gross stories here (does your child eating dirt count?)
My children will never see a land line – at least not in our house. If we have a jack, I have no idea where it is.
I used to be someone who carried EVERYTHING in her purse, which was super neat and organized at all times. I am no longer that person.
I do always have lotion, chapstick, sunglasses, reading glasses, *acid reducer, *tylenol (*pregnancy must-haves!) mini hairbrush, iPod, and some variety of hair-affixing hardware.
I wish I was someone who had one of those cool band aid caddies with antiseptic cream and wet wipes. I also wish I could keep a snack in my purse without inevitably eating it on the way to my car (from the kitchen. where I just put the snack in my purse.)
The gum wall is fascinating! I love little community things like that. Sorry about the lice–that is NEVER fun! Tea tree oil is the strongest natural repellant of lice. It doesn’t help once you’ve got them, but to avoid future infestations once this one is over, you can spray water & tea tree oil on the kids’ hair, or use hair products that contain it. (Not to be spammy, but my salons sell Boo! shampoo and conditioner with tea tree oil, so you know this isn’t some crazy tip I just read somewhere. I know it works.) Good luck getting rid of the critters!