In 12 hours, I will be on a plane heading to Chicago. I’m off to my first Blog Her, one of the biggest blogging conferences in the world. Heck, I’m even speaking at it (and by “speaking” I don’t mean only to the person in front of me in the bathroom lineup). There are going […]
humor
Driving 14 Hours with Kids
We arrived in Manitoba last Thursday. It’s where I grew up, or — more precisely — where I started to grow up. I’m not fully mature yet. The good people of Toyota lent us a Sienna. My son nicknamed it Redman. Then my husband informed me that I shouldn’t shout that name out in the […]
When your husband pimps the minivan
To understand my husband, you have to know he has an ever-growing tacky collection, including canned alligator meat, Chinese Revolutionary propaganda, and a Jesus toast maker. Recently, he told me, “I have a surprise for you.” I raised my eyebrows, choosing silence. “You’ll get it tomorrow when you come home from work,” he said. “Is […]
Announcing Book #2
I’ve been sitting on this 550-word manuscript for six years. Even though Agent Jill doesn’t sell children’s books, I showed it to her anyway. Because she’s awesome, she sold it. It was announced on Publisher’s Marketplace this morning: I love The Change Your Name Store for many reasons: it has Seussian rhyme Wilma, the main […]
Just You Wait: The Whiteboard Wednesday version
This week’s guest blogger is Jody Robbins. Jody is a Calgary-based freelance writer and mother to three children (one husband, one dog, one daughter). Whether it’s luggage, time, or just life, she tends to cram as much as possible into small compartments. Follow her adventures on Twitter or on her blog, Travels with Baggage. Just You Wait…. There’s […]
How Not To Promote Someone's Book
I get asked several times a week to review and promote things on my blog, especially books and enlargements of certain body parts. I almost always say no (a.k.a. delete the email without replying), mostly because our house already has 6000 books in it and because my body parts are large enough. Still, every now […]
A Lesson in Country Circumcision
I am thrilled to have Jenny Fiore guest posting today. Jenny is a freelance writer in Wisconsin and narrowly survived two colicky babies. She loves choreographed Kung Fu sequences, Oliver Sacks, primitive camping, and wine. She currently blogs at TheMomplex.net. Her first book, After Birth: Unconventional Writings from the Mommylands (Possibilities Publishing), will be released in March 2013. […]
The 20 Worst Gifts for Valentine's Day
A couple of months ago, I asked the Ironic Mom Facebook community what the worst gifts were that they’d ever received. Given that Valentine’s Day is next week, I’m going to declare these the 20 worst gifts you could give your beloved on February 14th. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. […]
It's My Birthday and I'm Giving Things Away
For those who’ve read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I am the meaning of life. For those who haven’t, here’s some math. My husband got me this birthday cake two years ago. It’s a bit moldy now. ~*~* Sometime this spring, I plan on changing the look of my blog. In particular, I’m going […]
How To Do Crafts on Live TV When You Barely Have Opposable Thumbs
It’s no secret that I’m terrible at crafts. Basically, I don’t even try. My husband likes to remind me that I have the finger dexterity of Kermit the Frog. So what’s the logical thing to do when a Breakfast TV producer asks if you can do a four-minute demo of four activities that kids can […]