Reflections from the Softer Side of Bad Weather

Over the past weeks, I've seen my Facebook and Twitter feeds nearly fill up with friends and family along the Eastern seaboard talking about first an earthquake, then Hurricane Irene, and now even more raining and flooding.  With the excepti...

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Pool Time? Uh, no!

This afternoon, around 430 PM, when it was 700 degrees outside, Big Girl started begging me to go in the pool.

Now, a quick explanation. We have a $6 swimming pool. From the grocery store. Holds about a tablespoon of water and basically just lets ...

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A Terrible Toddler Malady! (Funny)

Big Girl just informed me that she has to go to the doctor right now so they can feel her tummy and tell her why she's so hungry...and then give her new stickers! Almost. Died. Laughing! What's your funniest toddler malady?

How bad is the economy? (Funny!)

(Hat tip to my Aunt Joan A.) THE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT: I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. CEO's are now playing miniature golf. Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen. I saw a Mormon with only one wife. I bought a toaster oven and my free ...

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Eliminate Your Blind Spot!

Good Tuesday morning evening to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

I drive between 15,000 and 20,000 miles a year - and I'm sure some of you drive many more. This is the ...

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McDonald's PlayPlace in Pantego Review

Big Girl, Bubba Boy and I are out running errands today, and after 2 hours in the car shuttling between stops, they decided to exercise their majority vote and demand a stop. Where better than a McDOnald's with a PlayPlace?
We ended up at the ...

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Carrot Induced Bulimia

Bubba Boy hates carrots.

With an unholy, fire-breathing passion.

Whenever I try to sneak little carrot bits or mashed carrots in with his other food, he makes the most awful face.  Then he retches and uses his tongue to push any food in his ...

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A.A.A.D.D.

(I originally posted this to my old MySpace blog in mid-2007, after my husband forwarded to me with a note that said "this is YOU."  Aw, honey.  Too funny not to repost here!)

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated ...

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Samsung 500 at TMS

I love me some NASCAR and one of my favorite track is Texas Motor Speedway...by virtue of the fact that it's only a few miles away and we used to be season ticket holders.  And hopefully future season ticket holders, once the kids are older!

...

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Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Welcome Ultimate Blog Partiers!!  I'm thrilled to participate in 2011 - my last Ultimate Blog Party was in 2009!

Here at 0 to Mom, we talk about parenting at the speed of life.  Frazzled Mommy and Funny Daddy aren't likely to be profiled ...

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The Oxygen Mask Principle

I had to run a few errands after wrapping up the work week and brought the kids with me since Funny Daddy was headed to work. Errands done, and what's looming ahead? Why, Burger King with a playground. Score! I had promised Big Girl Mickey D's, but ...

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Family-Work-Life Balance

Hey, Moms! (And Dads!)

What is your favorite tip, trick or technique to balance all of what you've got going on in life?

In a future series of blog posts, I'll be exploring the good, the bad, and the insanity of what works best when you're ...

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Introducing...the Flashing Light

Good Tuesday morning to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

The entrance to my neighborhood is guarded by a flashing red light.  Not stop signs; nope, those are too ...

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Libya vs. Iraq

Best. Ever. (Hat tip to B!)

Famous Canadians

Too. Funny.  Apologies to my Canadian family and friends, but my husband shared this one with me, and it's too good not to pass along!

Poopy Diaper or Free Ritas?

Bubba Boy just had such a violent diaper that the stitching to the stay-dry crystals busted open and came flooding out. For a second - ok, ten, until I could find the source - I thought he'd pooped ice crystals.

Free Ritas, anyone???

Diaper = FAIL!

You're Not That Important

Good Tuesday morning to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

Hat tip to D for this timely tip:

"Put the cell phone down when boarding the plane! You can't put things in the ...

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Are We There Yet???

Funny comic over at Bizarro by Dan Piraro. (Hat tip to Funny Daddy for sharing!)


Unfortunately, they require you to buy the image just to display it on a website or blog.  They missed the memo that teaches about broader distribution and ...

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Thursday Thirteen #23: Why PA is Cool

Join in the Thursday Thirteen fun here!

It's no secret that I have no intention of moving back to the area where I spent the first 21.5 years of my life: Scranton or Mountainhome, Pennsylvania. I'm perfectly happy here, where the west begins: Fort ...

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Recipe of the Day

This recipe is a tasty pie-in-the-face of "Mama said there'd be days like this" that will leave you asking "what next" while you pondering whipping it up for yourself next Groundhog's Day, or even on April Fool's.

(Editors Note: Folks, you can't ...

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Why Charlie Sheen is Right

I was re-watching my favorite Two and a Half Men episode last night and reflecting on how sad I was that I wouldn't get to see Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer ham it up on the set of the show any longer.

Have you seen the show? I love it. Have seen ...

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NASCAR Wrapup: 2011 Kobalt 400 (Vegas)

I always get nervous heading into Las Vegas, folks.  Everyone knows it's Busch territory.  Kurt and Kyle know that track inside out and routinely do well there.

And I can't stand 'em.

But Carl got a little retribution from last week's ...

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Talking About Potty Training

Some of my discussions with my kiddos are about the tough issues in life...biting, sharing, and, of course, potty training. Here's a recent exchange with Big Girl.

Mom: Do you have to go potty, honey?

Big Girl: Nope. I'm busy asking you to put D...

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Explaining the People Mover

Good Tuesday morning to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

I just love easy ways to get from one place to another, quickly. I don’t have much patience for slowness of any ...

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NASCAR Wrapup: 2011 Subway 500 (Phoenix)

I have to admit...I'm 4-days post-surgery and still relying pretty heavily on pain meds.  And towards the end of today's race, I found myself wondering if I'd accidentally taken too many.  Because this Jr. fan started rooting for the ...

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Talking About Sonic

My kiddos are often held captive in the backseat of my car. Going all sorts of places they'd just as soon skip in favor of going home. But it's where some of our best conversations occur. Here's one about Sonic.

Mom: We'll head home in just a few ...

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Silent Courtesy

Good Tuesday morning to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

We (us travelers, that is) have a purpose for being on a plane. We’re going somewhere. (Duh, right?) Maybe it’s ...

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NASCAR Wrapup: 2011 Daytona 500

This year's Great American Race is in the history - and record! - books.  What did you think of it?  Do you agree with some early reports that it was one of the most unpredictable Daytona 500s to date, or are you a bit puzzled by some of ...

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Talking About Bottles

Talking to my kiddos when they have their mouths plugged just seems mean. But I have fun with it. Here's a talk with Bubba Boy about bottles.

Mom: Here you go, Bubby. A nice bottle of juice.

Bubba: Boobs.

Mom: Come on now. This is apple juice. You ...

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Love you, Mommy!

At what age did your children realize that they, in fact, were in charge?

Big Girl has had that realization already.

Example:

Tonight, I came to understand the frustration my parents often had with me for the slow speed with which I attacked meals.

...

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Keep Your Shirt On!

Good Tuesday morning to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

Hey! You! Yeah, you! The one undressing on my airplane.

Let’s chat.

I fly fairly often. Not a road warrior, but my ...

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Mommy Moments #2

This week's theme is "Dear Baby" for Mommy Moments.

Dear Bubba,

You are a much loved baby.  I'll admit that you caught us off guard - while Big Girl was a planned baby, you were a complete surprise.  But we've loved you since the first ...

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Great Wolf Lodge Loves Police

I recently came across a great deal for law enforcement families.  Great Wolf Lodge, which has locations all over the country, offers a "Howling Heroes" discount that takes around 10% off the price of a room when you book using offer code ...

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Talking About Nursing

Sometimes, when I'm talking to my kids, I'm wondering exactly how big of an idiot I think they am. Here's a recent discussion I had with Bubba about nursing.

Mom: Alright, Bubba. Careful now. Mom's a little sore.

Bubba: Boobs.

Mom: I'm glad we ...

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Exploring the Child Tax Credit

I've been boning up on portions of tax law that are either new, changing, or of fresh relevance to me this year, and thought I'd post up some of my findings, in case they can help any of you.

Let's talk about the child tax credit.

Clearly, I've ...

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Talking About School

I talk to my kiddos constantly. And even though Big Girl can answer back, I sometimes make up different answers from her in my head. Because I know that's what she's actually thinking. Consider this conversation on school.

Mom: Did you have fun at ...

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Driving in Winter

Good Tuesday morning to everyone, and welcome to Tuesday Travel Tips with Tiffany! To read previous editions, you can find them here.

We've had what I would consider to be more than our fair share of winter weather in north Texas this year, and so ...

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Scheduling for Success

We all know that police officers work some of the toughest and most-oddly scheduled shifts, compared to nearly any other profession.  And we all know how optimistic we can be, as police spouses, about things magically "falling into place" ...

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Mommy is Busy Right Now

I subscribe to Newsweek magazine.  I have since I was a freshman in college; before that, I just read my parent's subscription at home.  I've literally read this publication since I was old enough to read and reason.

Sometimes, espec...

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Now I Lay Me Down...

Dear Funny Daddy,

Thanks for buying that cute little doll for Big Girl at church last Sunday...you know, the one that recites the "Now I lay me down to sleep..." prayer.  Big Girl has now pushed it's buttons (and mine!) for the 64th time in ...

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Favorite Part of Police Lifestyle

After a few somber posts, let's cheer up a bit. What's your favorite part of the law enforcement lifestyle?

My favorite part, hands down, are the stories my husband brings home of the idiots he see out in the big wide world.  You know who I ...

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McDonalds NEMall PlayPlace Review

I took the kiddos to our favorite McDonald's for lunch today. Basically, I needed to run enough energy off Big Girl to prevent her from rending a tear in the fabric of the universe.

Recently, the McDonalds at NorthEast Mall (Pipeline @ 820 in ...

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Over-Under on Police Relationships

My husband was a cop when I met him; it's all I've know him to be as a profession.  But not everyone marries into the law enforcement lifestyle.

I'm curious.  How many of you were together with significant other before they became a ...

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Talking About Dinner

I talk to my little kids like they're big people. To the extent where it may be excessive. And I fill in their responses in my head...which is definitely excessive. But funny. Here's my discussion with Bubba about eating dinner.

Mom: I made you a ...

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Dealing with Fear

One of the biggest fears in being married to a law enforcement officer is injury or death.  For some police spouses, this fear can be debilitating.  Others learn how to compartmentalize this fear so that it doesn't overtake the non-scary ...

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Snow Days and Scheduling

My husband works what I consider to be an odd schedule. It's on 2, off 2, on 3, off 2, on 2, off 3. Repeat. I guess it's nice, because it's a 14-day schedule, so it replicates every two weeks. His shifts are 12 hours each, which turn into 14 hours ...

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Kids and Snow Days

Remember how exciting it used to be when a snow day was announced? We'd gather around the TV at 5 AM praying that our school name would scroll past next. In the average winter, we'd get 3-6 days off for snow...which would then be made up by ...

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Texans and Snow

Before I moved to Texas almost nine years ago, I would have sworn to you that it didn't snow here. After all, I was moving to the area better known for 100+ degree days in the summer than lower-than-freezing in the winter.

My first winter here, we ...

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How to Say Good Night

Good nights can be hard when Dad is at work instead of at home.  Toddlers aren't great at comprehending concepts like "work" or "see you in the morning."

How do you deal with little kids who fuss at bedtime because their police parent is gone ...

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Police Pets in DFW

If you are a police family and live in the Dallas Fort Worth area, check out this excellent resource:

Vaccination Station, presenting Operation Vaccination, provides lower-cost veterinary services to the public on set dates at set non-clinic ...

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Sick While On Duty

I had a S.W.O.D. weekend this past week - Sick While On Duty.  It sucked, but could have been much worse.  Here's how I coped:

I was sick - had the flu plus an upper respiratory infection - and it was the hubby's on-weekend at ...

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Felled By a Sitcom

I'm down with the flu, and TV is playing a big part in my "distract the kids so I don't contaminate them" plan for today.  I know, I know.  TV isn't a great choice for a babysitter, but when the doc tells you you're highly contagious and ...

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SOTU Wrap Up

Howdy, folks!  I struggled to decide this year upon the format for my State of the Union response - line by line responses, like last year, or topical thoughts, as I've done with prior political speeches?

I've decided that topical is better ...

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