Heather Balog's Blog, page 29

Monique McDonell

Put your hands together for today’s featured author…Monique McDonell coming to us from the other side of the globe…Australia!

Monique is the author of 6 Novels, including the first in a series, Any Way You Slice It.

About the author – Monique McDonell

I am an Australian author who writes contemporary women’s fiction including chick lit and romance. I live on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with my husband and daughter, and despite my dog phobia, with a dog called Skip.

I have written all my life especially as a child when I loved to write short stories and poetry. At University I studied Creative Writing as part of my Communication degree. Afterwards I was busy working in public relations I didn’t write for pleasure for quite a few years although I wrote many media releases, brochures and newsletters. (And I still do in my day-job!)

When I began to write again I noticed a trend – writing dark unhappy stories made me unhappy. So I made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending and I have been writing happy stories ever since.

I have been a member of the writing group The Writer’s Dozen for eight years. Our anthology Better Than Chocolate raised over $10,000 for the charity Room to Read and helped build a library in South East Asia. I am also a member of the Romance Writers of Australia.

I have written five stand-alone romantic comedies and Any Way You Slice It, the first book in my new Upper Crust series.

To learn more about Monique McDonell and her upcoming books please visit her at http://www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com

Piper Adams has one month to find a husband, and get a green card, or be kicked out of the country just when her chain of Aussie Pie trucks is about to start making some serious money.

Aaron is an ambitious lawyer keen to make partner but his Boston law firm only promotes lawyers who are married.

A marriage of convenience could solve both their problems if they keep it strictly business but convincing everyone else that this is true love while trying to convince themselves that it isn’t is a sure recipe for trouble. All the kissing and touching to prove that this is a true love sets the heat rising faster than the pies in Piper’s kitchen.

While Aaron is happy to be friends with benefits, Piper knows better than to mix business with pleasure, despite the undeniable chemistry. Getting married to save her business is one thing, but falling in love would mean risking her heart. Any way you slice it she’s getting more than she bargained for.

A little bit like a cross between Grease and The Proposal, Any Way You Slice It is sure to captivate readers who love romantic comedy and chicklit.

This is the first book in The Upper Crust Series.

Monique has been kind enough to share her favorite Aussie Meat Pie recipe with us:

In Australia we have local cake shops in every suburb that sell meat pies and sausage rolls. They are the ultimate take-away food. Long before the Colonel, Golden Arches or various pizza chains graced our shores in the 1970’s this was the food we ate. We enjoy them at sporting events in the same way an American might have a hot dog.

(My dad has a sister who lives in LA. When they come to Australia my mother gets out the good silver and serves up Aussie meat pies to them at the dining room table. It’s the sort of food you dream about when you are far, far away.)

In Any Way You Slice It, Piper the main character has a chain of food trucks that sell only pies and while she serves a variety of flavours, the classic meat pie is the corner stone of her business.

This is a family pie that I make in a family sized pie plate but it can also be made as 4 individual pies if you have individual pie plates. This is one of my daughter’s family favourites.

Australian Meat Pie – serves 4

1 quantity of shortcrust pastry or one pie shell (I’ll post my recipe soon)

olive oil

2 small or 1 large onion diced

500g beef mince

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

1 beef stock cube

2 cups hot water

2 tablespoons cornflour

2 tablespoons water (extra)

1 sheet puff pastry

1 egg yolk.

1. Heat oil in pan and add onions, cook stirring until soft. Add mice, cook stirring until browned.

2. Stir in sauces, stock cube and water (I dissolve the stock cube in water first) simmer 15 minutes. Stir in cornflour and extra water. Stir over high heat until it boils and thickens. Cool.

3. Grease a pie plate with butter or olive oil and roll pastry to fit pie plate. Cover pastry with baking paper, fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake in moderate oven 8 minutes. remove beans and cook a further 8 minutes.

4. Fill pie shell with meat mixture. Brush edges or pastry with egg yolk and press puff pastry on top. Cut to fit. You can use any scraps to decorate. Brush pie with more egg yolk. Bake in oven 20-25 minutes until golden.

Enjoy!

Filed under: novels

Celia Kennedy

Today’s featured guest is Celia Kennedy, author of Kathleen’s Undressed, Charlotte’s Restrained, and Venus Rising.

Celia Kennedy was born in Wurzburg, Germany on a military base. Her parent’s penchant for traveling has stuck with her, she’s lived in and traveled through several countries.

The imagined world has always fascinated Celia. She has studied Art History, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture. Her thirteen year career at UW in Seattle ended in 1996. Not wanting to be homeless, she left the academic world and worked as a Landscape Architect, married the love of her life, become a mom, been PTA President, and Girl Scout Leader.

The unimaginable wealth in her life is the most fascinating thing to her.

Her love of travel, the designed and natural world, friendship, self-discovery wine, chocolate, AND love are the foundation of her books.

Amazon Author Page – Follow: http://www.amazon.com/Celia-Kennedy/e/B00AW5KEZO

Website: http://www.celiakennedy.weebly.com

Blog: http://www.womanreinventsself.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMKAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KennedyCelia

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/celiakennedy/

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106475224814075459757/posts

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Celia Kennedy, Charlotte's Restrained, Kathleen's Undressed, Venus Rising

Whitney Dineen

My first author is Whitney Dineen, author of She Sins at Midnight which I am actually in the middle of reading.

 

While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, Whitney Dineen was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles with her husband. During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the writing bug and started creating characters inspired by strong women with a great sense of humor. In addition to writing romantic comedies, Whitney has also created a series of adventure books for girls. Whitney and her husband live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where they raise their children, chickens and organic vegetables.

For more on Whitney, check out her website WhitneyDineen.com

She Sins at Midnight: "Hilarious!" ~Kirkus

Pay It Forward

About 6 months ago I was invited into a group on Facebook for “Chick Lit” Writers. Now, my book genres range the gamut from dark and psychological to cheery and humorous, so while I didn’t feel like I necessary fit the “Chick Lit” mold, I joined anyway. Heck, I READ Chick Lit sometimes so why not?

It was the single best decision of my entire book writing career. The ladies (and a couple of guys, too) in this group are not only the MOST helpful individuals I have ever not met in real life, they are wonderful human beings as well. I have learned more about writing, marketing, and promoting in these past few months than I ever could have hoped to glean on my own. My book sales have been through the roof and I really feel if I had not met these ladies (and guys) I would not be anywhere near as successful as I’ve been. The amazing thing about writers is how much they support each other. I think it’s because it’s not as cutthroat competitive as one might think; just because someone else is a great writer, it doesn’t take away from your talent and success. That’s why I love my fellow writers…they are really here to help me.

So last week one of the members of the group, Bethany Turner (http://www.amazon.com/Bethany-Turner/e/B00E3EPI6K/) posted that she spent a week promoting only OTHER authors and not participating in any self promotion. She said it felt awesome.

Well February has been a crappy month for me on the personal front…a lot of depressing events and pretty $hitty aftermath. I desperately want to feel awesome. But ironically, book sales have been great (probably due to the great ideas and advice I get from this group). I want to turn the page on my calendar to March and erase the memory of February. What better way than to Pay it Forward? I decided that the first week of March I would spend promoting other authors on my blog, Facebook page and Twitter. Each day I will feature a different author. No self promotion will be allowed. (I’m looking to feel awesome…I assume that’s not self promotion). I’m hoping you guys will check out the works of these amazing fellow authors and be turned on to their writing.

Monday: Whitney Dineen

Tuesday: Celia Kennedy

Wednesday: Monique McDonell

Thursday: Sky Greene

Friday: Maggie Le Page

Saturday: Isabella Louise Anderson

Sunday: Christine Ardigo

Monday: Tracy Krimmer

Filed under: Uncategorized

Amy Maxwell, World’s Most “Okay” Mom

Hi all, Amy Maxwell here again! Sorry I’ve been MIA… I’ve been busy doing that crazy thing called “parenting”; you know, when you have all intentions of actually doing other (productive) things besides flecking dried eggs off the counter and removing crayon from the wall, but that sucks the life out of you so you don’t end up doing anything but falling asleep on the couch at 9 pm???

Anyway, I took my two younger kids to the park the other day since it was the first nice day in a while. The temperature was creeping up around 50 degrees so after a frigid winter, the park was crawling with parents and kids alike bursting with a touch of spring fever. I sent Colt and Evan to play on the swings while I attempted to catch up on the five hundred and seventy two emails on my phone(no, I am not even exaggerating a teensy bit…I wish I was). I was glancing up from time to time to make sure nobody had cracked their head open on the ground and Evan wasn’t putting mulch in his mouth. It was then I noticed these three mothers spread out through the park. There was nothing overly remarkable about these women; they weren’t wearing pearls and they didn’t have blue Mohawks or anything, but they were sticking out like sore thumbs…all three were obviously suffering from “First Child Syndrome”.

As I leaned back and drop my phone in my lap, I found myself watching these women with amusement…ah, how I remembered when I too suffered “First Parent Syndrome” or aka “Helicopter Parenting”. Back when I was young and naïve and had a bunch of energy. I glanced over at Evan (who was flinging his jacket off at the moment) and realized that there are huge differences between the first child and the fourth (actually, this probably applies to the first child vs. any subsequent child…you just get successively more exhausted with each one you pop out).

1. When Allie was Evan’s age, I made sure all of her food was organic and homemade. I poured over recipes each week to compile the healthy grocery lists, taking in account all the necessary components for brain development like omega 3 fatty acids. Each meal contained foods from every food group; she didn’t eat fast food ever. She didn’t even know what McDonald’s was until my father mistakenly brought her there one day (she was 5).

Evan’s first word WAS McDonald’s.

2. Allie was always dressed meticulously, hair combed neatly, gathered into a ponytail or braid. Her clothes were new, clean, and fit perfectly. She had a bath every single night with Johnson’s Lavender Sleepytime soap and I made sure she brushed her teeth for 2 minutes every single morning and night (she had a sticker chart and a timer).

Evan is currently wearing hand me down sneakers from Colt that are too big and have a hole in the sole. His sweatpants are too small and are gathering around his calves. His hair is sticking up, I can’t remember the last time he had a bath, and I’m pretty sure his shirt not only has a hole in it, but a huge juice stain down the front. Oh, but he regularly uses his toothbrush…to comb his hair.

3. Our living room walls are covered with pictures of Allie; 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, Allie at preschool graduation, Allie at her first recital, Allie at Disneyworld, etc., etc. I had a membership to the JcPenny’s Picture Club and I sure as heck wanted to get my money’s worth. I have an entire Rubbermaid container of Allie’s photo albums and videos stashed at the bottom of my closet.

We have a picture in the living room of Evan when he was born and several on my phone that I haven’t gotten around to uploading to the computer yet.

4. When Allie was little if she so much as coughed or had a temperature that broke 100, I would rush her to the doctor, certain that she was going to need IV fluids and breathing treatments and maybe even a croup tent. Needless to say, she picked up even MORE germs from those doctor’s visits and ended up with a cough or fever half the year. She’s now allergic to three different antibiotics and has full blown asthma.

I took Evan to the ER when he fell down the stairs and split his lip. He’s only been to the pediatrician for his immunizations and well visits. Oh and once he had an ear infection.

5. Allie was only allowed to have one hour of screen time a day. That was computer OR TV, not both. I was so rigid about it that if we watched a movie that was an hour and a half, I deducted a half hour from her next day’s screen time. I played Playdoh with her, did puzzles, made crafts, MADE Playdoh…anything to keep her occupied and away from the screen that was going to melt her brain.

I don’t even remember the password to my iPad…that’s how long it’s solely been in Evan’s possession.

So maybe it looks like I’ve gotten lazier with each child, but I’m thinking I’ve just gotten smarter, a heck of a lot smarter. After all, who has TIME for all that stuff with more than one kid??? Who has time for it with ONE kid??? I spent half my life beating myself because I didn’t think I was doing enough, I didn’t think I was “mothering” enough. It turns out I was doing TOO much and screwing up by being neurotic. My advice to new moms? Stop beating yourself up and RELAX. Your kid didn’t get to bed at 8:00 on the dot? It’s fine. They’re resilient. You didn’t read to your child tonight because you had to help your other kid with his four hours of homework (don’t even get me started on homework)? It’s ok…they’ll live. Maybe they’ll fall asleep faster or something. The kids had frozen pizza for the second time this week? Give them carrots with it…it’ll even out in the end.

You’re one person, and an amazing one at that, no matter what you do because the bottom line is, if you get them out of the house at 18 (or 23) all in one piece and they’re decent human beings, you’ve done ok. And that’s what I strive to be…forget the “World’s Best Mom” mug…I want, “Amy Maxwell, World’s Most Okay Mom”.

Check out the rest of Amy’s parenting mistakes in : “The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell”

The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell (Amy Maxwell Series Book 1)

Have No Regrets

I started The Bad Mommy Diaries blog as a place that I could relay funny tales of what was going on in my life; stories that I hoped other parents could relate to and laugh along with. My only unwritten rule for my blog was that it had to have humor. Today I’m going to break that rule because sometimes life isn’t funny.

Last Thursday, my brother in law was tragically killed at work. It wasn’t something I was going to blog about simply because of that unwritten rule. Who wants to read something so upsetting and depressing in a place they go to for lighthearted stories? So much was racing through my head that I couldn’t sleep for days. There were no words to describe how I felt. I couldn’t find anything funny within me or write anything amusing. Then, at the wake, a friend’s husband suggested that it might be cathartic to just write. The words didn’t even need to make sense. I thought about that for a few days and I realized that he was right.

My brother in law got up for work last Thursday, got dressed, ate breakfast, drank his coffee, and drove to work, all without knowing that it would be the last time he would ever do those things. He was probably thinking about what he was going to eat for lunch (and dinner and lunch again) or devising a witty text to send my sister.  Maybe he was plotting what TV show he was going to make fun of that night or planning his next paintballing excursion with my nephew. And then, he went to his first job of the day and never left. He never did any of those things. He never came home. Think about that for just a second because that’s all I’ve been thinking about for the last week. He. Never. Came. Home. 31 years old.

His 32nd birthday is next month. He won’t see it. He won’t see his new baby born. He won’t see my nephews graduate high school or get married. He won’t know what happens on The Walking Dead this season. He won’t know who Chris gave the final rose to on the Bachelor (not that he really cares…he would just like to mock the whole thing). All things that we take for granted; all things that we assume we will do in our lifetime because none of us think we are going to leave for work and not come home.

We never know when we will wash our hair for the last time or kiss our spouse for the final time or see our last sunset. And that’s scary as hell. Because we always think “I’ll do that tomorrow” or “I’ll have time for that next month” or next year. If I’ve learned anything in the past few days it is, DON’T wait. There might not BE tomorrow or next month or next year.

Mike DIDN’T live for tomorrow though. If there was one thing everyone would say about him (besides the fact that he was the nicest, biggest jerk you’ll ever love), was that he lived his life. He lived more in his short time on earth than people in their nineties have. He embraced his life in everything he did. He was never serious. Nearly every single picture we have of him he is either making a ridiculous face or clowning around. He played video games and read comic books…he was a kid in an adult’s body. When the mood was dark or there was fighting going on, he would strap on a bra and slip into a pair of heels and talk in a high pitched voice until you were rolling on the floor and completely forgot what you were upset with to begin with. He never wanted to grow up, yet he could be the best father and husband you could imagine. It always amazed me how he could be like a child but be so mature at the same time.

Maybe that’s what we all need to do in this life. Stop worrying, stop obsessing about stupid things, stop putting things off till tomorrow. Oh there’s things we can put off till tomorrow: the dishes (unless you just used your last bowl), the laundry (unless you don’t have any underwear), and the vacuuming (unless you have guests coming that are allergic to dog hair). But when the opportunity presents itself…DON’T put off: hugging your family, telling someone you love them, putting your work aside to go play in the snow, and making your dreams happen.

Ironically, I made my own bucket list the weekend before last. I had 50 things I wanted to do before I was 50. And already, there’s one thing on that list I can’t do. Mike was an MMA fighter and I wanted him to teach me. But I will make it a point to do as many of the other 49 things on that list in his memory. Because in the end, that’s all we have…it’s not about whether our house was clean or we were the best dressed or drove the nicest car. It’s about our memories…the ones we have and the ones others make with us. Stop saying “One day I’ll….” Have no regrets. Live every day like it’s your last. Because you never know when it will be.

If you are able to, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me site set up in Mike’s honor. While nothing will ever replace him, every little bit helps to ease the financial burden of raising the children without him.

http://www.gofundme.com/lprml8

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/02/comcast_worker_killed_in_glen_ridge_accident_recal.html

Filed under: Uncategorized

Amy Maxwell…Fairy Princess…sort of.

Ok, so I’m sitting here dozing on the couch while Evan is playing with Colt’s Legos (yeah, yeah, yeah…I know, but he’s been pretty good about NOT putting them in his mouth lately. If it gets me ten minutes of Evan Downtime during the day, I’ll take it). Suddenly, I am ripped awake by the peppy sound of a show coming to life on the TV and Evan screeching with delight.

“Mama! Tink!” Evan is excitedly clapping his hands and pointing to the TV. It must be some show about trucks that talk or ninja pandas that fly planes. I can’t bear to look to see what Evan’s new TV obsession will be.

I blink several times to adjust my bleary eyes to view the pixelated nightmare that rules Evan’s life and my jaw nearly drops. He’s on his feet, swaying back and forth to the music of…Tinkerbell?

Oh, fabulous, Roger is never gonna get over me letting our son watch Tinkerbell. And then I think…Good. Screw Roger. I like Tinkerbell. At least Evan and I can watch something together for a change.

As I sit with my littlest baby curled up on my lap and watch our little pixie friend screw up one thing after another (kind of like me), I feel my head bobbing and my eyelids growing heavy.

“Tink! Tink! Wake up!” I rub my sleepy eyes and look into the steel blue eyes of none other than… Jason? Why is my sexy fantasy man neighbor here in my house? I glance around and see that I am in…a TREEHOUSE??? And lying in a…what the hell is this? A walnut? And why the heck is Jason dressed like that with a pointy little hat and green stockings? He looks like an elf! (He still looks totally hot dressed like an elf, though).

“Jason?” I rub my eyes to assure myself that I am not seeing things.

Jason cocks an eyebrow at me. “Jason? Who’s Jason? I’m Peter!” He thrusts his fist upwards and twirls around in a circle…in the air?

I sit up and immediately realize…holy crap! I’m Tinkerbell! I, Amy Maxwell, have morphed into one of the greatest Disney Princess (okay, fairy princess) of all times! My daughter Allie’s favorite princess (way back when she wasn’t busy hating her mother and painting her fingernails black).

I guess it makes sense. We’re both really short and have big hips and no boobs. And we both screw everything up. In fact, I haven’t gotten one thing right since I’ve been born. At least Tinkerbell found out she was a good Tinkering fairy once she tried everything else. When am I gonna figure out what I’m good at? It’s certainly not motherhood.

“We have an adventure ahead, Tink! Pirates and bad guys that need to be taken down! Follow me, and I’ll lead the way!”

“Where are we off to, Peter?” I ask excitedly, anxious to follow Jason, er, Peter to the ends of the earth.

Suddenly, Cammi from next door comes waltzing into my tree house in a blue nightgown, exposing her heaving bosom over the top of the lacy camisole.

“Wendy!” Jason/Peter grasps her hands and twirls her around. “Thank goodness! We couldn’t possibly have an adventure without you, now could we Tink?” He glances at me, his eyes urging me to agree with his statement.

No, of course we can’t have an adventure without Cammi/Wendy. I’m starting to realize just how much I’m like Tinkerbell. Remember when I gave Roger a bloody nose because he was looking at that bimbo leaning over the seat in the movies in front of us? I’m suddenly having the urge to do that to my slutty neighborhood nemesis over here.

 

“Not so fast!” A booming voice fills my treehouse as a rotund figure busts through the door (really, this place is way too small to have all these people squeezing into it…)

Speaking of “squeezing in”, it’s apparently Roger who has joined the fun. Dressed like a pirate. He’d actually look quite dashing if it wasn’t for the mustache…not a fan of facial hair. Let me guess, he’s Captain Hook?

“Egads!” Jason/Peter is wielding a sword at my husband, aka. Captain Hook. “Tink! Get up and help me fight the evil Captain Hook! He wants to steal Wendy!”

I glance at “Wendy” and then I glance at the “Evil” pirate. Hmmmm. Just like the real Tinkerbell, I’m weighing my options here. I’m jealous of “Wendy” and I give her up to Captain Hook to destroy, well, that leaves me alone with Peter Pan now, doesn’t it?

Stop that Amy! You can’t be alone with Jason! And what about Roger? You’re throwing Cammi into his lap…doesn’t that make you a little bit jealous???

I don’t have time to be jealous in my daydream as I am ripped awake by the sound of Evan screaming in terror. My eyes pop open to find that he has scaled the bookcase and is swinging precariously from the top, wielding his own plastic sword.

“Jake, Mama!” He is pointing at the TV again. I can see “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” is now blaring. I sigh with my never ending exasperation as I pull the step stool over to the bookcase and detach my toddler from his fortress wishing I could sprinkle myself with pixie dust and fly away. So much for life as a princess. I’m just a lowly tinkering fairy after all.

If YOU were a fairy in Neverland, what would YOUR special power be? Enter your  answer in the comment section with your email address. (We need the email address to contact the winner or the prize will not be valid).

The Grand Prize for this hop is the Congratulations Magic Morsels 48 Gift Box from Fairytale Brownies http://www.brownies.com/, which includes a bite-size assortment (Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Original, Raspberry Swirl, Walnut, Cream Cheese) of 48 delicious gourmet brownies.  Mmmmm…doesn’t that look delish??? This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY and a winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, February 16th.

 

Make sure you visit all the other blog sites on this blog hop for a chance to win! You have 19 chance to win if you visit all the blogs!

http://chicklitgoddess.com

http://christine-ardigo-author.com/?p=436

http://www.glynisastie.com/blog.jsp

http://thebadmommydiaries.com/
http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/
http://www.change-the-word.com/2015/02/fairy-tale-blog-hop.html 
http://jaynedenker.com/
http://whitneydineen.com/blog-posts/
http://delshereegladden.com/blog/
kathalstead.com
http://cindimadsen.blogspot.com
http://www.abeautifulbookblog.com/
www.robynneeley.com
www.engyalbaselneville.com
http://ranunculusadventure.blogspot.com
http://katieoliver.com/ko/blog/
http://m.blogher.com/myprofile/fern-ronay
www.meredithschorr.com
http://www.lainaturner.com/
Don’t forget to check out Amy Maxwell’s other adventures in “The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell” available on Kindle and Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mistakes-Maxwell-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00NOFDA8W

Filed under: novels, parenting humor Tagged: Amy Maxwell, chicklit, chicklit chat, momlit, princess blog hop

I know I’m breaking my own rules but I must brag…Today I...

I know I’m breaking my own rules but I must brag…

Today I’m a Featured Author in the Indie Book Bargains Newsletter in UK:

Filed under: Uncategorized

Amy Maxwell’s Top 10 List

Hi everyone. I’m Amy Maxwell and Heather has asked me to be a guest on her blog. As flattered as I was that she would turn her blog over to me, I have to admit I’m not quite sure what that entails. So I’ve been reading a few blogs on the internet. I got this newfangled phone that makes it easier while I’m waiting for the kids at pick up time…(not that I’m ignoring my toddler in the backseat or anything…I assure you we are singing along to specially selected kids’ music and I’m stimulating his brain receptors by asking questions about the song lyrics like all the articles say to do). The bloggers are usually praising their kids are writing about their top 10 favorite things about being a mom or the top 10 things all moms should say to their kid so I’ve been working very hard on my top 10 list. Here goes:

Top Ten favorite times of the day:

1. First thing in the morning when I’m the only one awake. I like to make a list of my goals for the day over a steaming hot cup of coffee. Sometimes I prep the dinner for the crock pot or tidy up what I’ve missed during my post bedtime clean-up the night before. (You know that stray sock sometimes falls out of the laundry basket!) I miss my children, but I know they’ll be springing to life shortly.

2. When my darling cherubs wake up. What better way to start my day than seeing my beautiful children smiling and bounding out of bed, eager to begin the day on a positive note.

3. Breakfast time. I am happy to make my sweet loves a homemade and nutritious breakfast they all enjoy and thank me for.

4. Dropping them off at school. Even though I’m sad to see them go, I know their education is the most important thing in the world. They also know this and they NEVER give me a problem about going to school.

5. Evan’s naptime. I miss my energetic little boy when he’s a sleep, but I love to watch his angelic face as he gets the rest he needs to grow.

6. Pick up time. I get to be reunited with my cherubs again!

7. Homework time. My children are all brilliant and at the head of their class so it’s never a hassle to get them to do their homework. They know doing their homework is pivotal to their educational process and look forward to it with relish.

8. Dinner time. Everyone loves to get together and share their day over a hot homemade meal that I’ve spent hours preparing. Everyone ALWAYS eats everything and NEVER picks apart the food or complains that they don’t like the meal. And after dinner, the kids all pitch in and help get the dishes done so it’s not all on me.

9. After dinner family time. We all sit on the couch and choose a movie together. Everyone gets to watch because homework and chores have long been accomplished. We wind down with prayers afterwards.

10. When my babies are fast asleep in their beds. They’re so sweet and…ASLEEP and QUIET. Who am I kidding??? The first 9 things on this list have pretty much been a lie.

Ughhhhh!!!! I don’t think I can do this! How do these blogging mothers manage to keep their sanity and savor every last moment with their children??? My house is not cleaned up at night (I barely have energy to crawl into bed), I don’t make dinner every night, I never have time to make breakfast inn the morning, and my children are not pleasant either time of day!

You know what I think? I think all those lists are lies and made up nonsense to make those moms look like mother of the year in front of their friends and family while they’re all silently counting down the moments to their kids’ bedtime when they can pour a glass of wine and pat themselves on the back for actually surviving the day and not losing their $hit on their kids. Because that’s what I do almost every day. I love them to pieces; don’t get me wrong. But I’d love a day where nobody fights me about putting on a jacket or eating the dinner that I made (or ordered), doesn’t throw a fit when I try to detangle their hair, or doesn’t cling onto the car seat for dear life when I try to extract them from the car at drop off. Just one day! Does that make me a bad mommy? Yeah? Well, then I guess I’m blogging in the right place.

Filed under: novels, parenting humor Tagged: Amy Maxwell, blogging moms, stay at home moms

Are you tired of me yet?

Hello all my lovelies! Since I am quite certain that you have all had quite enough of me ranting and raving and bitching and moaning (at least my oldest has told me that you MUST be tired of hearing me…he who is brilliant and a mind reader at age 13. I think he just doesn’t want me blogging about him anymore). I have thus decided that I will NOT blog the month of February. Nope. Not a single blog will be blogged by me. Instead, I’ve invited a guest blogger so that my followers and readers can get a fresh perspective on motherhood. Ladies (and those two gentlemen who actually read this blog) I give you guest blogger Amy Maxwell!

Wait a minute, wait a minute! Amy Maxwell is your character isn’t she? Star of The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell and the soon to be released Amy Maxwell and the 7 Deadly Sins? If Amy is your guest blogger, doesn’t that mean YOU are actually blogging and totally breaking your own rule???

Why no, not at all! Amy is certainly NOT me. Amy has 4 children and I only have 2. Amy is a stay at home mom and I have a full time job outside the house. Amy has 2 sisters and I only have 1. Amy is the middle child and I am the oldest. See? TOTALLY not even remotely the same person. (Also Amy is a lot more klutzy than I am and tends to daydream WAY more than I do…Shhh, don’t tell her I said that).

Anyway, Amy is a 36 year old stay at home mom of 4 who tends to daydream from time to time. In fact, if she goes off on a daydreaming tangent while blogging, just ignore it…someone will send her crashing back to reality before long. She also has a knack for getting herself in dangerous, albeit humorous situations. She is currently recovering from her latest adventure and may seem a bit jumpy to you. (That’s what happens when you’re looked in a cabin for two days with your hunky neighbor while hiding from a killer…)

So sit back and enjoy the next few weeks of another bad mommy’s point of view. I hope you’ll find it refreshing. And if you do enjoy Amy, I hope you’ll check out the rest of her story, The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell, on Kindle.  http://www.amazon.com/The-Mistakes-Ma...

Or, if you’re like me and can’t stand reading on a device, Amazon for the paperback copy.

The 8 Mistakes of Amy Maxwell (Amy Maxwell Mysteries) (Volume 1)