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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!

5 Apps to Help You Update Your Wardrobe

February 9, 2015 by amushro

While this is a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own #MoreVA #VZWBuzz

Friends, I’m making a change. A BIG change and I’m starting with my sad, sorry wardrobe. I used to consider myself very fashionable and I had a closet full of stylish clothes to prove it. But now that I’m a write-from-home-mom, the contents of my wardrobe range from yoga pants to clothes that could possibly be pajamas. When I was packing for a trip last week, I yelled from the depths of my closet “I have NOTHING to wear,” and this time I really, really meant it. So I’m rectifying this problem by adding some new essentials to my closet. But I don’t have hours and hours to walk into every shop at the mall so I’m using a few new apps I’ve added to my brand new Android Turbo to make life a little easier and a little more fashionable.

Are you a fan of Pinterest? Me too, but usually I’m looking for yummy recipes and fun crafts for my kids on this amazing site. But did you know that there are thousands of pins that showcase fabulous outfits? Thank you, stylish Pinners! Since I don’t know what my style is anymore and I need help putting an entire outfit together from top to bottom, and Pinterest is my starting place. I search the pins for styles that I like and then I have an idea what is actually “in” these days.

Were you a fan of the movie Clueless? As if! Did you dream that someday you would have a closet that would rotate racks and racks of fantastic clothes and you’d use a computer program to create your outfits just like Cher? While I can’t help you with the rotating racks, My Dressing app can help you create outfits based on the pieces in your closet and it’s ridiculously fun. Once I started buying a few new pieces for my wardrobe and cleaned out the clothes that could make me a fashion victim, I used My Dressing app to take pictures and mix and match new outfits. I’m a visual person and I have momnesia so I LOVE seeing all my outfits together.

Now that I have a few ideas of what clothes and accessories I want to buy, it’s time to head out to the stores, but not before I clip some coupons…kidding. I have zero time to clip coupons so I needed an app that could do that for me. Retail Me Not has thousands of coupons from thousands of stores and it’s more than just clothes! Get this app and get your shopping and saving on!

Getting out and hitting the stores isn’t always possible for a busy Mamma like me so Fashion Kaleidoscope is a different way to shop. The app shows you a ton of styles and if you like the look or even just one piece of the look, you click on it and are given links to similar clothes and accessories! How cool is that? The app even shows you where you can get the best price for the looks you love.

Adding new clothes to your closet means it’s time to get rid of clothes you aren’t wearing, and why not make some money too? The Vinted app allows you to snap a picture of the clothing you want to sell and shares it with their community of buyers. Clean out that closet and make some money–so you can shop more!

Want to learn more about Mobile Shopping?

Join @theonlinemom @RobynsWorld @geekbabe and @thetechdad on Friday, February 13 at 12 noon PT (3 pm ET) as we chat about Mobile Shopping!

RSVP and attend the party for a chance to win great prizes!

Plus, join the Video Recap right after the chat for another chance to win a prize!

To RSVP:

Email RSVP@theonlinemom.com(subject line: VZWBuzz) and include your Twitter ID.
Spread the word and RT this link on your Twitter feed: http://ow.ly/GPzTY
Join us on TweetDeck or HootSuite (#VZWBuzz) on Friday, February 13 between 12 – 1 pm PT
Tell your Twitter followers!

PRIZE WINNERS will be announced during the Party!

A NOTE to my nTelos Customers:

If you are using nTelos as your wireless provider, Verizon has a special offer going on right now just for you to switch to Verizon Wireless and get a $150.00 credit. This is a $150 bill credit PER LINE for up to 4 lines so the total savings could be $600.00! We have been Verizon Customers for years and compared to other companies and Verizon is faster and more reliable. Check out this Verizon Wireless Deal today.

8 After-Pregnancy Side Effects I Still Suffer From

February 4, 2015 by amushro

My favorite part of pregnancy is the prize at the end: the baby. Seriously, I’m the worst pregnant woman ever. I don’t glow. I don’t look like I have a basketball under my shirt. And I don’t have all sorts of energy that allows me to “nest.” Luckily I make super cute babies. However, there was and is a whole lotta side effects that I STILL suffer from! So of course, I wrote about and A LOT of ladies seem to have the same list of side effects! Hope on over to my pal Scary Mommy’s page to see what made my list!

baby-on-moms-lap — Image via Shutterstock

The Mom’s Quick Guide To Taking Care of Your Car

January 20, 2015 by amushro

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.#DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias

In my car, I’m carrying precious cargo: my kids! My grandfather owned an automotive care center when I was growing up, and he taught me a long time ago that taking care of your car is serious business. As mom’s, we’re super busy and on top of everything our kids need. But sometimes, we let other things slide, like maintaining our cars. I’m not just talking about getting it washed and vacuumed once in a blue moon. So keep your precious cargo safe and your wallet intact by using my grandfather’s words of wisdom, and I’ll show you how to make your life easier while takeing care of your car!

The Mom’s Quick Guide to Taking Care of Your Car

1.Turn Down For What?

Now I’m guilty of having the kids’ DVD player turned up too loud or really belting out the Frozen soundtrack for the 897^th time, but turn down the volume and take a listen to your car. Do you hear a squealing when you hit the breaks or when you apply the gas? Do you hear or feel a vibration? What about when you turn the steering wheel? Any sound is a clear sign that something needs to be fixed or adjusted. Usually we’re multi-tasking or not paying attention to those sounds, but they are tiny cries for help. OK, that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the point. Don’t ignore these sounds! It could be something minor but it could be a sign of a bigger problem!

2. Let the President Check Your Tires.

Got a penny? Sure you do! Just check the floor of your car (I’ll wait until you clear some goldfish crackers and juice boxes to find one). Now take that penny and place it in the grooves of your tire. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered, your tires are in good shape. If you see the top of Honest Abe’s head, you need to get your tires replaced ASAP! Bald tires are no joke. This quick test can also tell you a lot about your car’s alignment and give you clues to bigger issues. Try this on all four tires and in different spots of the tread. Who says a penny can’t buy you anything? You just bought yourself a little piece of mind!

3. Wait a Minute Mr. Postman!

No matter how long you’ve had your car, it can have a recall. Don’t ignore these recall letters that you get in the mail! You wouldn’t ignore your kid’s doctor’s advice, would you? Think of these recalls as the same thing. Take care of these problems now so you don’t have bigger problems later!

4. Blinded By The light!

Listen, I’ve been there, the check engine light goes on, and I send up a quick prayer to the car gods that it just goes off. Maybe you’ve been driving around for a while with the light on because you forget about it the second you step out of the car. The check engine light could be something as simple as you didn’t screw the gas cap on tight enough or it could be a sign of a much bigger problem. Think of your car as a big computer. With an easy diagnostic test, a mechanic can tell you why that light is turned on and fix it.

5. Change Is Good!

One of the easiest and most important things you can do to make sure car is in tip-top shape is to get your oil changed regularly. Grab that giant owner’s manual or do a quick search online and see how often the manufacture recommends oil changes. It can be so easy to forget oil changes, so set a reminder on your phone. Make sure you are using quality oil like Pennzoil for all oil changes. This is also a great time to grab that penny to check your tires and to get all of your other fluids checked too.

There is no need to dread getting your oil changed because at Walmart Auto Center, I can drop off my car, do a little shopping, and come back after the oil change: drop, shop, oil!

I was even given this tag to take with me while I shopped so I could check the status of my car on the scanners in the store.

I’m all about making my life easier and saving money. So I did a little grocery shopping and came back to grab my car. Of course, Walmart’s Auto Center had great prices and I knew that Pennzoil would keep my car running well because:

All Pennzoil products help clean out sludge lesser oils leave behind. Don’t bargain shop here, friends!
Pennzoil allows you to drive an extra of 550 miles per year vs. a dirty engine.
No other motor oil provides better protection from friction
Pennzoil Conventional Motor Oil is fortified with Active Cleaning Agents™ to prevent dirt and contaminants from creating problems.

So fess up! What things do you need to check in your car?

Listen To Your Mother Pittsbrugh, Should I Do It? YES!

January 13, 2015 by amushro

It’s been less than a week since Jennifer, Stephanie, and I announced that we have opened up auditions spots for Listen to Your Mother Pittsburgh, and it’s been a whirlwind of excitement for us!

We’ve also received a ton of questions (all good ones)! Also, I know some of your are thinking about auditioning, but you just aren’t sure you should do it (yes, you should!). So I created a post where I answers as many of those questions as possible and you can read it right here

Also, spend some time on the Listen to Your Mother You Tube Channel to catch some of the amazing reading from previous years in other cities. Honestly, they are all amazing and will give you a sense of how the Listen to Your Mother show comes together in each city.

Listen to Your Mother is such an amazing experience and I hope you will consider auditioning and joining us on this journey!

A January Beatrix Girls Slumber Party Prize Pack Giveaway!

January 13, 2015 by amushro

January can be a depressing month, right? The hustle and bustle of the is holidays over, you and the family might be trapped inside because of crappy winter weather, and when it get’s dark so early, you just want to crawl into bed (but it’s only 5:00). So maybe I can help you make those cold January nights a little more fun with a slumber party for a special little lady in your life.

Thanks to the Beatrix Girls, I’m giving away a Slumber Party Prize Pack to one lucky reader.

What’s in the prize pack?

A DVD with all of The Beatrix Girls webisodes for you and your friends towatch at your sleepover
A Beatrix Girls CD to dance and sing along with
Posters
Stickers
Tactic Activity Books
One of the following room accessories:
- A set of Beatrix curtains
- A Beatrix plush blanket
- A Beatrix twin sheet set
- A Beatrix twin/full size comforter

To win this awesome giveaway all you have to do is list your favorite
part about The Beatrix Girls webisode, Sleepover, listed below in the comments

The winner will be picked on January 21, 2015! Good luck!

Are you ready to Listen to Your Mother?

January 9, 2015 by amushro

If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, you probably know that I am madly in love with a little show called Listen to Your Mother. During the 2014 season, I was thrilled to be a part of the Washington DC cast and share my story “Emergency Mom” with the world. Did you miss it? Oh wait, here it is again:

After being a part of Listen to Your Mother, I knew that such a powerful and meaningful show needed to be brought to my hometown of Pittsburgh. Even though I haven’t lived there in over ten years, I still identify Pittsburgh as my home and love and adore everything that fabulous city has to offer.

When my blogging buddies Jennifer, Stephanie and I got the word we were going to bring Listen to Your Mother to the ‘Burgh we all did a ridiculous happy dance, cried a little, and then rolled up our sleeves because we were ready to work!

So where does this journey start? First up, auditions!

We are opening up spots for auditions, and if you live in the Pittsburgh or surrounding areas (WV,MD, OH), we want YOU to tell your story!

Listen to Your Mother is searching for men and women to share their stories about motherhood. You don’t have to be a mother, just have a story about motherhood. Even if you aren’t a professional writer or have any stage experience, don’t worry! Most cast members are in the same boat. Pieces are around 5 minutes long and read, not memorized. So don’t worry! It’s nothing like the stressful days of high school giving presentations in front of the class.

We are looking for stories that make us laugh and cry. We want stories of the good, the bad, the really bad, and the magical parts of motherhood. We want to hear about your mother, why you became a mother, why you never want to be a mother, who is the mother figure in your life. We want to hear it all so that we can give a broad perspective of motherhood that can be woven into one phenomenon show. We want your stories and we want to give you a microphone.

Click here is all the info you need for auditions in Pittsburgh!

Not near Pittsburgh? No worries, check here to see if there is a show near you! Each city has a different audition process and time frame so check the site to get all the details.

Even if being a part of the cast doesn’t sound like something you would want to do, can you do me a huge favor? Share this with someone you think would be interested in Listen to Your Mother! With shows in 39 cities, you are bound to introduce this life changing show to someone new! Then find a show near you and grab all your girlfriends and go see the show! Believe me, you won’t be sorry!

Play Us A Song, Tiny Piano Man

January 6, 2015 by amushro

When I was nine, I announced to my family that I wanted to play the piano because I was a star in the making and would be just like Debbie Gibson tickling the ivories in her I Get Lost in Your Eyes video. But my mom burst my MTV dreams when she pulled her flute out of storage and explained if I was playing an instrument, this was it. Lame. Wait, can I play “Hanging Tough” on this thing?

For two weeks I was totally consumed with my new musical career. By week three, that old flute lost it’s luster and by week four, I got into a scuffle with my older brother and wacked him with the flute. He got a huge egg on his arm, my flute was dented, and my music career was canceled short.

It’s OK because I lack any sort of natural music ability. Although when I sing Taylor Swift songs in the car, I totally kill it.

In a moment of deja vu, my son announced, after several episodes of Little Einsteins, he needed to play the piano. Right away I started reading all sorts of research on the benefits of piano lessons for young children: higher math scores, improved coordination, and even increases in critical thinking abilities, but it would take his first piano recital to show me what I had missed in all the research.

The stars aligned last summer when we inherited a beautiful piano from a family friend. Please note the awesome bed head on piano delivery day

After his first lesson, I learned a valuable lesson about what happens when your kid starts playing an instrument: it’s just as much a commitment on the parents part (read: the mom) because you have to practice every day with your kids.

My budding piano man never complained when I pulled him away from his toys to practice. However, on the weeks I was a bad piano mom and didn’t make him practice, I would sit anxiously and full of guilt in the waiting room during his lessons because I knew it was my fault he was struggling on a new song. Even on those rough days, he still walked out with a huge smile on his face.

When it came time for his first recital, he picked his own song and within a few weeks had it memorized. But let’s get real here, the kid is five which means on recital day ANYTHING could happen.

He could go out there and rock his entire song. He could get up there and refuse to play. He could get up that morning and refuse to wear pants.

As his mom, it’s my duty to be a huge ball of nerves for him on any special event. It’s also my job to keep that crazy underwraps and not barf up my breakfast: fail. Is this what I can expect for every performance, game, recital, or speech my kids ever give? Me trying not to barf before their big moment?

So he got up to play and I held my breath while he started playing those familiar notes.

And then he lost his place and I panicked for him. What probably took a whole ten seconds felt like a sweaty, nauseous eternity to me. I shot his teacher a worried glance hoping she would run over and rescue him, but she didn’t. Immediately I started sweating and looking at him and the piano and his teacher and then at my husband. Should I go up there? Would that help or hurt? OK, I’m counting to ten and then I’m going up there. As if my husband knew my illogical thoughts, he placed his hand in my lap, a gentle restraint.

And then this happened. He started playing again, finished his song, and then something I didn’t plan on: pride. So much pride in himself.

When I thought about his piano lessons, I thought about how this would help him in the future as he made his way through school and standardized tests. I never once thought about the present and what would end up being the most worthwhile outcome of piano.

That smile.

That feeling he had the moment he was done

The pride. All the pride in himself.

So in all my worrying, stressing and attempts to not vomit at the recital, I never imagined that boy’s face at the end. So lesson learned. Yes, piano may help him on his fractions homework in a few years and will probably help him get a few dates with the ladies in dozen years (barf),but for right now, I’m just basking in the glow of this face

What’s on my Christmas list this year? Perfect gifts for you too!

December 15, 2014 by amushro

Usually I’m the person that has all of their Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. Really, I’m usually done that early. However, this year, life. Life has happened and kept me so busy that I see the countdown to Christmas and I’ve officially panicked.

So if I am running out of time and beginning to panic, maybe you are too. Or maybe you’ve spent so much time thinking about what you will get for everyone else on your list, you have totally forgotten about yourself! No worries, I’ve got your covered! Here’s what I think should be on the top of your wish list!

1. Suburban Haiku: Poetic Dispatches from Behind the Picket Fence by Peyton Price: I love giving and receiving books during the holidays. While anyone can grab a quick gift card from Starbucks and throw it at you (not that I wouldn’t catch it), choosing a book for another person let’s them know you really thought about what they would enjoy and wanted a special and personal gift for them. Need a great stocking stuffer or hostess gift? Then you MUST get this fantastic book of haikus from the hilarious Peyton Price. You remember haikus from high school English class, right? Short poems that are arranged in lines of syllables of 5-7-5. Well honey, these haikus aren’t about trees and flowers but raising kids in the suburbs and the hilarity that ensures. The haikus will make you giggle and are perfect for a quick read. Head over to Amazon and get a few for your Mom friends!

2. Believe There is Good in the World: I am such a fan of filling your home with meaningful and moving quotes, and I really love this big and beautiful sign. These signs are so perfect for decorating your home, but beyond that, I just really love this saying. I want to hang this sign right outside of my kids’ rooms so that every day they see this sign as inspiration. This particular sign can be found on Etsy by an artist that has a shop called Words to Live By Signs. I’m hoping Hubby sees this on my list and that it ends up under the tree for me too!

3. Francesca’s– When it comes to shopping for clothes, purses, shoes, and jewelry, the ONLY place I shop is Francesca’s. Have you seen this place? The store is set up like a little boutique with really different clothes and accessories that are so reasonably priced, it’s insane. If I need a new shirt or a dress, this is where I head. I always get fabulous things that are so different and affordable. Sometimes sizes are a bit crazy, so be sure to try on everything. Giftcard, giftcard, giftcard–then have someone watch your kids so you can shop!

4. Stella and Dot Norah Pendant– When it comes to fantastic jewelry that really makes a statement, I’m all about Stella and Dot. Here is my latest purchase and I have received TONS of compliments on this necklace. I love buying a great necklace or bracelet and changing up different outfits to really let my jewelry be my statement piece. Check out their site because you will LOVE everything they make. So much fun! If you need a Stella and Dot stylist, check out my favorite gal pal Kelly Smith. She will help you out!

5. Stella and Dot Getaway Bag– If you have any weekend trips planned or even better, an even longer trip, forget those ugly totes and black suitcases, get a super fun bag. I really love the Getaway Bag from Stella and Dot because I can put a ton of stuff into it and I can unzip part of the bag so that it gets bigger! Yes, more stuff!!! I chose the elephant pattern because they are so stinking cute, but they have a number of other patterns too. So tell the man in our life you want this bag and a trip to take it on a test run.

6. Zipzwine– If you’re headed to a party this holiday season and thinking of taking over a bottle of wine, why not try something a little more fun? Zipzwine is a glass of wine in it’s own plastic stemware and it’s super yummy. I had quite a few glasses of Zipzwine at a conference this summer. It’s just a fun way of serving wine, portable, and hello, wine? It’s the gift that keeps on giving!