Exciting News — Page 2

I’m On NickMom!

July 30, 2015 by amushro

When I was a brand, spanking new blogger, I pitched an idea to NickMom and patiently waited for a response. Then I got one: A BIG FAT NO. That’s the thing about being a writer, you hear lots of “nos” all the time. I would venture to say we hear more nos than we do yes, but this particular no really bummed me out because I loved the site and wanted a spot on their contributor list.

So I boo-hooed for awhile, and planned on never pitching an idea to NickMom again. But recently I got a little inspiration from another writer that “no” really means “not now.” I love this idea: “no” really means “not now.” So I submitted another idea, NickMom said yes, and I did a roundhouse kick in the air and landed in a split because I was so stinking happy.

Long story longer, here’s the post I’ve going celebrated by eating every cookie in this house. So head over and check out The Nine Thoughts Every Mom has at the Pool

“Did I shave today? No, no I did not.”

“Again? Ugh, why can’t my kid pee in the pool like everyone else.”

“Look at those moms of older kids, relaxing on the lounge chair, reading books. SOMEDAY I WILL BE ONE OF YOU.”

“Swimming counts as a bath, right?”

“Is that 20-year-old nanny wearing my bathing suit? I knew I was shopping too close to the juniors’ section.”

“Must get home to make dinner. Must get home to… oh forget it, snack bar hot dogs for all!”

“Is that a rain cloud? (checks weather radar on phone for the 4,000th time)”

“Alright, older kids, you’re getting too rowdy for the shallow end. Move it along.”

“IT’S JULY. WHY IS THE WATER THIS COLD???”

via Giphy

It’s Really Time to Listen To Your Mother–The 2015 Videos are here!

July 10, 2015 by amushro

Here’s what I have planned for the next few days: I’m going to stay in my jammies, all curled up in my bed, and I am going to watch hours and hours of Listen To Your Mother videos while I laugh out loud, cry happy tears, cry ugly tears, say over and over “YES! Yes, me too,” feverishly search out the readers online to tell them how much I loved and adored their readings, and thank my lucky stars that Listen To Your Mother is such an integral and life changing part of my own little life as a member of the Washington DC cast and then as part of the trifecta team that brought the show to Pittsburgh this year.

Obviously the whole “take care of your kids” thing will get in the way of these lofty dreams, so while I’d like to do all of this in the next few days, I will gladly take my time as I watch the LTYM 2015 library and I do hope you will do the same!

Look at my ladies! I could not be more proud of them and eacch and every lady played such an important role in creating such a fantastic story and perfect inaugural cast. Sniff, sniff… can you tell I LOVE these gals and this show? I’m thrilled to share with you, Listen To Your Mother: Pittsburgh 2015:

Natalie Capone Gillespie
My Declaration of Independence: Natalie’s look at the growing independence of her son … and herself.

Tina Tuminella
Now I Get It: Tina Tuminella wasn’t much of a baby person. She waited until her 40s to have kids and NOW understands babies and what a big deal it is to be a mom.

Danielle Sibley-Siegel
Email to Nowhere: In an attempt to help her deal with the raging emotional swings of PPD, Danielle wrote an email to nowhere listing things that were upsetting her. Looking back at it a year later with clearer vision, she’s amused by the kinds of things that pissed her off.

Erika Fricke
Unplanned Parenthood: After planning the birth of her second child to the last detail, Erika found out there is no amount of planning that prepares you for the experience of parenting each of your children—and the often unexpected issues that arise for both baby and mother.

Stephanie Jankowski
Let There Be Bitches: Stephanie shares lessons with her feisty-from-birth daughter about being true to herself—even if that means being labeled a “bitch.” (Blog: When Crazy Meets Exhaustion)

Jennifer Pelling
Mother Hen: Jennifer captures the quintessential mothering instinct experience as told through the life of a chicken. Her story will linger with you, I promise you that. (Blog: You Are Here Stories)

Britt Reints
Snapshots: Britt wonders if her children will remember their childhood in snapshots the way she remembers her own. (Blog: In Pursuit of Happiness)

Gina Jones
I Am a Mother: In a take-you-to-the-Church-of-Mom, Gina looks at her own life in an attempt to find her purpose and sees her greatest achievement reflected in the son she’s raised.

Ilene Marshall
Lunch with Mom: Ilene reminisces about a time her mother nearly ruined her cool status with a surprise visit for lunch at her elementary school—and wishes she had known to cherish it. (Blog:These Marmalade Skies)

Tamara Reese
Mothering in the Mirror: Tamara exposes her vulnerable past as she shares her emotional journey worrying whether she would pass the same troubles to her daughter as an extension of herself.

Jennifer Hicks
’Twas the Night Before College: Jen rewrote the well-known Christmas poem to tell the story of what she imagines will happen in two short years when her son gets ready to head to college. (Blog: Real Life Parenting)

Dawn Patton Mangine
Mother of the Year: Dawn recalls the day her daughter called the police because she was “being a mean mom” as one of the funny examples of times she’s felt like the “mother of the year.” (Blog:Red Pen Mama)

Kristen Stepanczuk
Planned Parenthood: Kristen shares the story of the conception of her daughter in a way that will make you laugh every time you hear the word “spelunking.” (Blog: You Can Always Make a Little)

Dad is Rad! Dad is Rad! My Today Show #ParentingTeam Post

June 16, 2015 by amushro

Ties, grilling gear, fishing rods–these seem like the usual suspects for Father’s Day gifts, right? It’s funny how we struggle to find gifts for the fathers in our lives on their special day considering those really amazing Dads are are anything but typical, right? So while I still can’t find the perfect gift for him, I can tell you why he is the perfect dad for our family. Here’s my Today Show Parenting Team post all about my sweet hubby and why he is such a rad dad that makes our life so much sweeter. Click here to read! If you like the post, leave a comment over there or click the vote button!

Back on The Today Show with my Beach and Pool Hacks

June 3, 2015 by amushro

Friends, I have a happy dance that I reserve for really, really special occasions and let me tell you, I am full on happy, tap dancing, cartwheels, turn-turn-turn-kick-ball-change-jazz hands when I ‘m asked to come back to the Today Show. It gets real fancy up in here. After I finished bustin’ a move, I hopped a plane to NYC to be a part of another Parenting Team segment and I really think you will love this one. I’m sharing some of my best pool and beach parenting hacks.

P.S. Some of my readers were worried about the little girls that helped with the sunblock train and I’m telling you they were fine! They were outside for less than 2 minutes, honestly! They were so cute and their parents were so nice! So simmer down!

Also, I sorta love this clip because it literally makes me laugh out loud AND my hair and makeup looks fabulous and I would love for the Today Show hair and makeup team to just follow me around all day long.

Hey do me a favor, when I die, play this clip on repeat because it’s hilarious and fabulous. Deal?

A video posted by QuestionableChoicesInParenting (@questionablecip) on Jun 3, 2015 at 9:57am PDT

My Today Show’s #ParentingTeam Post– Mom Lessons!

April 21, 2015 by amushro

How fitting that during my Today Show whirlwind appearance, I had my mom by my side and now this month’s Today Show’s Parenting Team Challenge is all about sharing your mom’s best life lessons. It’s funny how moms are always willing to hand out advice, but we aren’t always willing to take it. Then years pass and we realize “dang, she DID know what she was talking about!” But don’t tell my mom I said that!

So hop on over to the Today #ParentingTeam site and check out my post. Leave me a little comment and click the vote button! Maybe I’ll get the chance to go back on the Today Show and share a little of my sweet Mamma’s wisdom! Click Right Here To Be Magically Transported!

Also, how sweet is this pic of my mom, kiddos, and me in the hospital after my Lyla was born? Wahhhh look how little my kids were!

The Today Show’s Parenting Team and my Life Hacks!

March 29, 2015 by amushro

*Hangs head in shame* Friends, I committed the cardinal sin of parenting: I bragged on social media about my “super healthy kids” and BOOM every freaking cold, cough, flu, and virus within 20 miles hit our house for MONTHS. Ugh, waiting for the health department to drop a bubble on this house any minute. Silver lining, the Today Show Show (yes the Today Show!!!) is featuring my Life Hacks for Keeping Your Sanity When Your Kids Are Sick! So please do me a solid and hop on over to read it and click the vote button. I promise I won’t cough on you! Click Right Here to read and vote!

It’s Here! I STILL Just Want To Pee Alone!

March 27, 2015 by amushro

My blog’s tag line “Laughing at life as a parent so they don’t commit me” isn’t just something funny that fits nicely on my blog. No, friends, it the TRUTH! And really, we all need to laugh a whole lot more, amirite? So let me help you with that because I’m thrilled to tell you that the hilarious book I STILL Just Want to Pee Alone is available now and I’m in it!! My essay is all about kids in public bathrooms, poop particles, and Dr. Oz. It’s getting real, friends.

So it’s time to ignore your kids, tell your husband to fend for himself, get your copy, and get your laugh on! Remember when I told you about the 40 amazing writers that are featured in this book? What are you waiting for? Go! Read! Laugh! Leave a review on Amazon! See how I snuck that in there?

Get your copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ans iTunes or you can get the book from me! Just send me an email to questionablechoicesinparenting@gmail.com

Also I’m having a book signing April 10 at the Simply Sweet Shoppe in Uniontown, PA and I’ll be speaking at the Uniontown Baby & Beyond Expo on May 17. If you are in the area, please come see me! I will probably hug you. Hope you’re cool with hugs.

I STILL Just Want to Pee Alone. How About You?

February 24, 2015 by amushro

The other day I tried a really novel idea–I LOCKED the bathroom door. Crazy, I know, but we have these locks on the doors and apparently they do stuff like keep kids, dogs, and husbands out of the bathroom while it’s otherwise occupied. Fascinating!

It was about 30 seconds after lock implementation that I realized why those locks aren’t used by mothers very often. It might have been the banging on the door. Or the cries of “Mommy, something is wrong with this door. I can’t get it.” Or the sudden crash that came from the toy room that sent me running with yoga pants around my ankles.

While I may never pee alone again, I seem to be in good company, and I’m beyond thrilled to revel the cover of the new book that I’m going to be in I Still Just Want to Pee Alone. It’s available March 27, 2015!

This book is a sequel to the wildly successful book created by the hilarious Jen Mann of People I Want to Punch in the Throat. You’ll find essays about motherhood being the toughest and most absurd and hilarious job, and we can all relate to our deep desire to just PEE ALONE! If you were a fan of the first one, you are going to LOVE this book. Here’s the line up of fantastic writers in I Still Just Want to Pee Alone:

Bethany Kriger Thies of Bad Parenting Moments

Kim Bongiorno of Let Me Start By Saying

Alyson Herzig of The Shitastrophy

JD Bailey of Honest Mom

Kathryn Leehane of Foxy Wine Pocket

Suzanne Fleet of Toulouse and Tonic

Nicole Leigh Shaw of Nicole Leigh Shaw, Tyop Aretist

Meredith Spidel of The Mom of the Year

Rebecca Gallagher of Frugalista Blog

Rita Templeton of Fighting off Frumpy

Darcy Perdu of So Then Stories

Christine Burke of Keeper of The Fruit Loops

Amy Flory of Funny Is Family

Robyn Welling of Hollow Tree Ventures

Sarah del Rio of est. 1975

Amanda Mushro of Questionable Choices in Parenting

Jennifer Hicks of Real Life Parenting

Courtney Fitzgerald of Our Small Moments

Lola Lolita of Sammiches and Psych Meds

Victoria Fedden of Wide Lawns and Narrow Minds

Keesha Beckford of Mom’s New Stage

Stacia Ellermeier of Dried-on Milk

Ashley Allen of Big Top Family

Meredith Bland of Pile of Babies

Harmony Hobbs of Modern Mommy Madness

Janel Mills of 649.133: Girls, the Care and Maintenance Of

Kim Forde of The Fordeville Diaries

Stacey Gill of One Funny Motha

Beth Caldwell of The Cult of Perfect Motherhood

Sarah Cottrell of Housewife Plus

Michelle Back of Mommy Back Talk

Tracy Sano of Tracy on the Rocks

Linda Roy of elleroy was here

Michelle Poston Combs of Rubber Shoes In Hell

Susan Lee Maccarelli of Pecked To Death By Chickens

Vicki Lesage of Life, Love, and Sarcasm in Paris

Kris Amels of Why, Mommy?

Mackenzie Cheeseman of Is there cheese in it?

Tracy DeBlois of Orange & Silver

So on March 27, get the book, use those fancy locks, tell everyone you have “business” to attend to, and get ready to laugh out loud with everyone reading this book!

The Today Show and my 50 Shades of Excitement

February 11, 2015 by amushro

I always thought my first appearance on the Today Show would be about parenting and some of the ridiculous essays I write about my epic parenting fails, but the way I landed myself on the Today Show is actually pretty perfect for this lady!

When you’re an English teacher people often assume that you spend your free time reading the classics and analyzing great pieces of literature. I mean, my brother is an ER doctor and no one assumes for a good time he breaks his own arm then sets it in a cast. So when you catch a glimpse of what’s on my Kindle, don’t be surprised that you won’t find any Dickens or a single Shakespeare play. What you will find is the same trilogy that millions of ladies have been downloading, trading, discussing, whispering, shouting, and patiently waiting for the move version, 50 Shades of Grey.

I assumed I’d be catching Mr. Grey in all his glory on the big screen with a few of my gal pals, but a producer from The Today Show called and because I sent them a silly caption from one of the movie stills, they asked if I would fly to NYC for their special screening and ask the stars of the film a few questions. I tried to act really cool on the phone (take deep breaths) but I’m sure my inner “SQUEEEEEEEEEE!” was showing!

“Oh sure, that sounds fun. I could do that.” SQUEEEEEE!!!!

Here is how I got ready for my trip:

1. Call up your best gal pal and scream into the phone “I’m going to be on the Today Show! Get a babysitter because we are flying to NYC to see 50 Shades of Grey!” Wait for her confusion then her screams of joy.

2. Get your mom to watch your kids. Assure her the NEXT time you are on the Today Show you will take her.

3.Shop for something fabulous to wear and shop fast.

4. Get your nails and hair did.

5. Be prepared to feel like a celebrity for two days. Understand reality will come crashing down, but not yet!

Obviously having a car pick us up at the airport totally did NOT go to my head–whatever, it was pretty rad—

I’d like to thank my kids for getting up insanely early every morning. Because of them, I was actually able to get myself up, ready and down to the car that would take us to the event at 5:30 in the morning. Since I was a guest of the Today Show, we walked right in, but hundreds and hundreds of ladies were waiting outside in the frigid 10 degree weather to get inside. Insane!

On the “grey carpet” were lines and lines of fellas handing out yummy drinks. If THIS is the kind of stuff that happens at red carpet events, count me in, friends.

It’s always key to take your super fabulous friend who adores NYC just as much as you do and appreciates and practices going a little bananas for celebrities much like myself. I heart her. Funny thing about the audience, they were all women. The only men were the ones working for the Today Show.

The day before I planned everything I would say to the author E.L. James. Then I met her and said something stupid like “I’m so excited!” Good one, Amanda. Definitely one she will remember.

Then there were ear-piercing screams from the back of the theater. No need to panic.Mr. Grey just entered the building. After the first set of interviews with the stars of the film and the writer, the movie started (again so awkward to watch this movie at 7:30 in the morning) and we all settled in for the movie we’ve been anticipating!

Check out my vlog where I’m giving my honest review of the film!

After the movie wrapped up, all of the cameras and lights were back on and it was my turn to be on camera and ask the stars a few questions!

Knowing my entire family was at home with the DVR set, I made sure I didn’t have lipstick on my teeth, walked up next to Carson Daily and…. they ran out of time.

So I didn’t get to ask my question, but I did get on camera much to the happiness of my mother who will tell everyone this story for the rest of her life.

Natalie Morales was so sweet and apologized for running out of time for our segment, grabbed my hand, and said “let’s get some pictures with Jamie and Dakota.” And that, friends, is how Natalie because my favorite person forever.

Not only is he gorgeous, ladies. @jamiedornan smells really good too #FiftyShadesFirst @todayshow

A video posted by QuestionableChoicesInParenting (@questionablecip) on Feb 6, 2015 at 4:45pm PST

The entire time I was in New York I kept saying “This is so absurd. All of it. It’s so absurd.” Fantastic and absurd but totally amazing. See, your English teachers were right, reading DOES open all kinds of doors.