Spring and another good book
Spring is definitely on its way. It should be, it's the month of April already. My kids are so ready to get outside for some fresh air - and skateboarding, baseball and picking beautiful flowers. Today's forecast - sunny and 50. No doubt my youngest son will be out in shorts and a tee today. That's still a wee bit too cold for me but soon, yes soon, I'll be unpacking summer clothes and putting away the long underwear and winter boots until next October.
I started reading a new book this weekend - yes, another Jodi Picoult novel. It's her latest release Change of Heart. I'm not that far along yet, maybe page 50, but so far, I'm hooked. Check out Jodi's news at http://www.jodipicoult.com. She is one incredible woman, mom and writer.
Our spring issue of Mom Writer's Literary Magazine is out featuring Publisher Nancy Cleary - awesome issue. I learned some wonderful news the other day for MWLM. Our MWLM site was chosen for the third year in a row as one of the 101 Best Sites for Writers by Writer's Digest Magazine. Yippee! Thanks to everyone who voted for us - we appreciate your support for mom writers :)
Oh, check out this great site http://www.birthonlaborday.com/home.html. The founder of BOLD, Karen Brody (BirthOnLaborDay) and Playwright of Birth is an amazing woman. Lots of great things happening there...
OK, time for this mama to scoot. Have a super week and enjoy the sunshine!
~ Paula
Oh yeah I think I'm goin' to Boston...
...great tune by Augustana :)
Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend! We did in Boston and as always, it passed too quickly.
Enjoy your week!
Paula
Mercy and the audition
SO this afternoon was day 3 of auditions for our local talent show at our high school. Phillip, my 16 year old, Joseph, my 13 year old and Joseph's friend, Matt, also 13 had their audition at 4:45 with two songs that Phillip wrote and they said it was COOL. The show is the end of March and from what I hear, there will be some great talent performing here in our community that night. The boys have two more weeks to practice their performance in our basement AND two more weeks to decide on a name for their band (they change band names as much as they change their ring-tones).
I'm now reading Jodi Picoult's novel Mercy. The hubby read it before me and warned me that I probably will not be a big fan of this book. HA! How could that be, I love all of Jodi's books so far. Well, he may be right. So far, there is one major male jerk-off in the story and I am not happy with him. I'm hoping he gets what he deserves in this story - that or drops dead. I bought Jodi's new novel Change of Heart and that is my next read, however, to date, My Sister's Keeper is at the top of my list.
Easter is quickly approaching...we are really looking forward to some R&R in Boston :)
Time for this mom to go to sleep. Nicholas, it was so good to have you home the past three days and have fun in Montreal the rest of the week with your friends - oh, and when you talk to Jen again, tell her we said "HI!" and Tony, have a good time in Florida next week and give Meghan a hug for us :)
~Paula
Super bowl and a dance
Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Our house is divided between the Giants and the Patriots. We used to live in New York and pulled for the Giants while there - sometimes. We also cheered for the Steelers, Dolphins, Broncos and Bengals. Personally, I'm pulling for the Patriots this year. How about you?
Last night my 10th grade son, Phillip went to a school dance with his girlfriend Sarah. It was a semi-formal event so she bought a new dress and Phillip dressed up nice as well. I let him know that when we dropped him off at Sarah's that mom would have her camera in hand so to be prepared for pictures :) They had a great night and really make a cute couple...
Enjoy the game everyone!
Paula
Happy, Happy, Happy
Happy Birthday to my Anna Gracie (6), Happy Anniversary to me and my hubby (23), and Happy New Year to all (Welcome 2008)!
Here are some snaps of my Anna Banana girl from the 27th and we're celebrating 23 years tonight out for a nice dinner and The Water Horse flick. Hard to believe 2008 is knockin' on our doors, but it is, and I'm ready. Enjoy the rest of 2007 everyone and bring on the New Year :)
~ Paula
Anna gets the Grinch
Anna with Little Mommy
Yum Yum, Anna loves cake!
Wisdom teeth and Christmas blessings
So this morning my oldest, Tony, had his four wisdom teeth removed. It went well. He only has a little swelling and his lower lip is still totally numb, but he is determined to get through this quickly. He was even up playing ping-pong with one of his brothers tonight. I think it's going to hit him tomorrow morning when the rest of the novacaine wears off and the throbbing kicks in. But we are thinking positive as Tony told me this afternoon :)
Did everyone have a Merry Little Christmas? We did. Here are some of my favorite snapshots from Christmas Eve and Xmas day of my Rugrats, oh, and me and the hubby :)
Take care, Paula
Christmas Eve 2007
Nick with J looking on...
Phillip and Bob Marley
Joseph with new skateboard
Nick with his shuffle
Guitar picks and some much needed socks, Yay!
Anna excited about her new cup from big brother Tony
Anna Banana with Angela and Pita
Tony ready for the gym
Tony and Rage...
Phillip with his new baby
Me with my new baby
J with his new baby :)
(Quarter Pipe)
Frigid days and Fridays...
always get me down. Has this ever happened to you? Picture this. Yesterday morning (Friday) I woke up...sick again. Only healthy for a few days from one cough and cold that lingered for weeks and I wake up with a burning throat, swollen, sore lymph glands in my neck, a pounding headache and a totally stuffed nose. SHIT. I was so pissed. Right in time for the damn holidays, my daughter's 6th birthday, my anniversary and New Years! I get out of bed and into a hot shower and head out the door as I have a totally packed day of errands that need to be done after I drop the kids off at school at 7:45am. Rushing out the door (kids already waiting in the cold car) I realize I forgot my glasses (but we are running late) so I jump in the car, make sure everyone is seat-belted and back out the driveway. After dropping off the kiddos I head to my first stop - the bank. It is too early yet and only the drive through window is open so I pull up and wait in a line for my turn. I put on the radio and find some great Christmas tunes (to relax me as I feel like crap) and sit and wait. Finally it is my turn. I slowly pull up to the window, turn and smile at the teller and push the button to put down my window. NOTHING. Hmmm, I try again. NOTHING. I peek up at the teller who is just staring at me blankly. Crap. It is so cold outside the window is frozen and stuck. I mouth to the teller that the window is stuck. She still looks at me blankly and I notice that the other tellers are turning and looking at me. I need to make this transaction now and I feel the anger rising as I lift my fist and proceed to bang furiously on the window to get it unstuck. After doing this for a good minute or so I look at the teller who is staring at me like I just escaped the loony bin and I push my finger on the button... NOTHING. I take a deep breath (in between coughs), look at the teller (and the other tellers in the bank who are looking at me) and mouth, windows stuck, I'll pull forward and get out of the way (as I have a line of cars behind me now). SHIT. So, I pull forward, drive all around the bank and through the parking area, park it, get out with a glove on my left hand and like a crazy lady beat on the window for 5 minutes. Push the button and the window slowly goes down. I get in the car, pull back up to the drive through and wait in another line. When it is finally my turn the teller says, "Oh, I see you got your window down." Great. I continue by telling her what I need, she takes all the information, and then looks at me and says, "I'm sorry, you can't do that. You don't have the funds in that account." HUH?! I tell her to check again as they should have been there as of this morning. Nope. NOTHING. I left, drove straight home skipping my other errands and got back into bed. I hate days like this.
On a brighter note - Mom Writer's Literary Mag is doing great this winter issue. Thanks so much for all your subscriptions :)
It's so good to have all my guys together again. Nevermind that they sleep until noon (or later) but it is good to see them spending time together. Today they spent time in the gym playing basketball together, jammed together on their guitars, keyboard and drums, and now they are heading out tonight for a couple games of bowling. I'm sure they will then invade the kitchen together (again) after they return and long after I am asleep. It is nice. They get along so well and I am one proud mama :)
Here's a couple of pictures of my gang Christmas Eve 2004 (3 years ago)...what can I say, we get crazy around food ;)
OK. I need some sleep. Happy Holidays everyone. May all your dreams come true... ;)
~Paula
Oh where oh where has December gone...
Date: December 15, 2007
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Oh where oh where can it be...? Seriously.
We have had sickness in our house since the end of November and by the time we are just getting over one thing, another sickness hits and spreads right through the house again. It's enough to drive a mom batty. Will the coughing ever end? My damn hands are RAW from washing them so much and the lady at Rite Aid must think I own stock in Lysol, Dimetapp and Tylenol.
So through all the illness I managed to get through my three finals for my college classes this past week - YIPPEEEE, I am done until January 22nd!!!! Such a GOOD feeling. My son Nicky Nacky finished up his finals at UCONN this week as well and Tony (at UMASS) will wrap his up by next Thursday (good luck Tone). We are looking forward to having you guys home for the holidays :)
Everyone around me seems to be having a baby. Really. Suddenly, so many women I know are pregnant or having a baby, which is great, don't get me wrong, but I am starting to feel...OLD. And I noticed that most of the bambinos have been - girls. Two of my colleagues recently had little girls (Kate and Annie) and just today we got the news that our neice had her baby 4 weeks early-and wouldn't you know-a baby girl, Carly Jane. Don't you just love these names - Kate, Annie and Carly - so adorable. We need some boys!
Basketball season for my guys is going well. Even through all the illness my butt's been planted in the gym three nights a week. Phillip's JV team is 4-0 and J's team is 3-1. Keep up the good work guys, you're doing great.
I've been listening to my Christmas music for the past couple weeks. I just love Christmas tunes. I think my favorites are Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells and Joy to the World. I know the kids get sick of hearing Sleigh bells ring...are you listening....but it's only one month out of the year, come on. Give up your Rage Against the Machine and Slightly Stoopid for just the month of December will ya. The music helps get me in the holiday spirit, what can I say. My Christmas shopping is done, cards are done, wrapping is almost done, we bought and trimmed our tree today (2 weeks late this year but oh well), and now all that is left is - the BAKING. Next week I hope to spend hours in the kitchen with some of my most treasured holiday recipes - and of course eating the stuff is THE best part (scale, what scale?)
Enjoy the holidays everyone - they pass so quickly. Oh, here is a dark and blurry picture of our Christmas tree that J took tonight - I think we need a new camera Santa.
MWLM winter mags have shipped out with our cover feature on Rock Star Momma Skye Hoppus so watch for those in your mailbox - and online starting Monday, the 17th! Have a super week!
Toodles, Paula
Basketball and Boston
So we traveled to Brattleboro, Vermont Saturday morning (2 hour trek) for Phillip's first official basketball game of the season. Coach told the boys that this would be one of the toughest teams they play this season and guess what? We won! The boys did a super job on the court and it was a nail biter, but final score 37-34 - great defense. Congrats St J :) Next game, Friday in Mt Mansfield - Go Green!
About last night...we had a blast! We love Boston to begin with-such a great city, but the Boston Music Awards 20th anniversary was so cool! And our seats were right up front at the stage. So much musical talent in that city let me tell you and so many awesome performers up for nominations...I won't be listing everyone here...Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith were there. The pop teen singer JoJo was there (loved the sparkly rhinestones on the eyelids thing, how do they do that?). Click Five - now there is a really good group of young guys who attended Berklee College of Music, got together and formed their band and BOOM, they are hot, singing JENNY...and do you remember Bobby Brown, you know, married to Whitney Houston years ago? He was there to be inducted into the Boston Music Hall of Fame. God, I remember dancing to his songs back when I first got married (long ago...) RONI...MY PEROGITIVE baby. He is so FUNKY and the diamonds on his fingers weren't too shabby either. Augustana was great (lead singer/keyboardist had an awesome voice), Matt Nathanson awesome, Martin Sexton-incredible voice...all this great talent I didn't even know about. So, as I mentioned the other day, Lori McKenna was going to be there performing and was up for awards....well....she won Album of the Year (major) for Unglamorous. Yay Lori!!!! It was great to see her performing Witness to Your Life with her band - they were super. Watch for Lori who will be featured in Mom Writer's Literary Magazine summer 2008 :) Congrats to all who were nominated and all the winners! It was certainly a night to remember.
OK, it's late and this mama is ready for bed. Here are some shots of the show last night (not in any particular order)...
Me and my guys waiting for the show to begin.
Augustana
Joey Kramer - drummer of Aerosmith
Lori McKenna
Lori accepting her award
Martin Sexton
Bang Camaro-OK big guy, stop showing off the lower tummy
The Click Five
Matt Nathanson accepting his award
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith
JoJo
Mr Bobby Brown
Thanksgiving memories
Happy Blitz Day (or Black Friday)! Has everyone done their shopping today with the Day After Thanksgiving sales? Not I. I don't get anywhere near the mall on this day. I simply don't like crowds and standing in long lines. I find it much easier, and cozier, to sit at my desk and click away at online sales ;) Well, I am almost finished with my holiday shopping so I'm not doing too bad this year...
How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Filling I hope :) We had a terrific turkey day at Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts. The food was divine and the day was perfect - 60 degrees - who would have thought we would have 60's in mid November?
Here are some pics of my gang from Thanksgiving 2007
Food was yummy!
Phil, Nick, Anna, Tony & Joseph
Guess Dad was the only one ready for this shot
Phil, Tony, Joseph, Anna & Nick
Phil, Nick, Anna, Joseph & Tony
Me and the kids hanging at the village bank
Hope you had a wonderful day with your friends and family! I'm off now - back to a busy day of taxiing. Joseph found out he made the middle school A (Red) team and he has a practice, Phillip has bb practice, Tony has a doctor appointment and I've got to get some groceries so we have food in this house again.
Have a super weekend!
Paula
Happy Birthday and Happy Thanksgiving
So I got my cholesterol results back last Friday. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be :) but still a little high. Actually, it's my Triglycerides that need to come down and of course the doc is reminding me to exercise more and stick to my low fat diet - easier said than done. So I have that to work on for the next six months before seeing the doc again for my next check. No more bacon and eggs...and cheese, shellfish, burgers, fries.......
Basketball tryouts are finally over this week for my 1oth grader, thank god. Poor kid has broken out from the stress, sheesh. That's really tough on a young kid when there are so many kids wanting to play a sport at their school and the coaches watch their every move like a hawk -and then cut by weeks end to get to the number they need. Oiy! So his games begin December 1st and from there on out this mom will be in a basketball gym for 2 1/2 months straight. My 7th grader who is in middle school has tryouts as well for basketball and that starts tomorrow - wonder if he's going to break out too?
Happy Birthday Nicholas! My second oldest son's 19 today! He'll be home tonight from college for the week and it'll be so good to see him since he hasn't been home since he left for college this year at the end of August. God where is the time going?! See you soon Nacky!
Here's a couple pics of Nick...
Nicholas, 11, snuggles up with our new pup, Charlie. 
MusicMan Nick, 17, performing on his guitar.
I'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving! We'll be in Sturbridge, Massachusetts for a couple days and I am so looking forward to no cooking, cleaning, work or college classes. Yes!
Enjoy!
~Paula
HAPPY HALLOWEENY!!!!
So, what's new? Ummm, oh, yeah, my son's school had homecoming this past weekend - town parade, bonfire and pizza party on Friday night and then the football game Saturday (in the cold, pouring rain), and then, the homecoming dance. About the dance. My 10th grade son decides, at the last minute, to go to the dance with a group of friends - and his 7th grade brother. We told J (7th grade son) to call us from his cell phone to let us know what he was doing (if he couldn't get in the dance as he is a middle schooler we would come pick him up - we live walking distance from the school). Ends up one of the school's directors is chaperoning the dance, and he says sure J could go in - and he lets him in. So J is the only middle schooler at the homecoming dance, hanging out with his brother and all his brother's friends - and dancing. The dance is a super nice, well chaperoned event and all in all, the kids had a really nice evening.
I'm just going to say two really gross words, OK. FLAT WARTS. There. I said it. I went for my yearly dermatology check the other day, you know, skin/mole check since skin cancer runs in my family, and the doc says all is good except...looks like you have FLAT WARTS on your left hand...Huh? What the hell are flat warts and why are they on my left hand?! So, the nurse goes out and comes back with the LIQUID NITROGEN - ouch, just the name scares the hell out of me. I hold out my hand and zap, zap, zap, the doc burns the suckers. Now I have six lovely scabs just waiting to fall off. FLAT WARTS - ugh.
Happy Halloween to everyone! We had a fun night tonight. The boys handed out candy with Gage (one of Phillip's friends) while we took Anna Banana (aka - the white bunny) out for trick-or-treating and then J (Cartman) went out for candy with his friends while Gage (Grim Reaper) and Phillip(George Bush) continued handing out the goodies until we ran out (7 bags of candy). Here's the gang - and it's so weird to be trick-or-treating in daylight because of daylight savings time - it should be dark and scary for Halloween. The weather was terrific however, 59 degrees in Vermont. Perfect.
Phillip,Gage, Joseph and Anna
Phillip, Anna and Joseph
And here is my UMASS college son Tony - aka Captain Condom ;)
My other college son was a UCONN leaf blower - don't ask! No pictures available yet.
And here is a pic from Halloween of Tony, Joe and Driscoll, a couple of Tony's college pals ;)
Anyhoo, enjoy your week!
Paula
Hanging with the Governor
Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont that is. It was so cool. My 7th grade son Joseph and his friend Randy were chosen from their school to lead the fall festival parade in our town and hold the sign for Governor Douglas (with the Gov and his wife following them). Check it out - J is the one smiling at the camera behind the big green guy.
Anyhoo, that was fun. And Governor Douglas is a very nice gentleman - after the parade he had his security/bodyguard drive Joseph and Randy back to our house, and of course as a mother, my first question to J was, "Did you say thank you?"
So that was our excitement for the weekend.
Anybody reading a good book lately? Let me know. I love chatting about books and authors.
Time to scoot - I have a haircut today AND it is gorgeous today - 60 and so fall like.....FINALLY!
Cheers,
Paula
Autumn beauty and Lori McKenna
Happy Sunday! I had a nice week, crazy busy, but nice. How about you?
Is everyone enjoying the end of summer/early fall? I know I am. As I sit here eating my butternut squash soup I am reminded that fall is right around the corner by the fresh, crisp air that is blowing in my office window. It's chilly here in Vermont today - sunny and 58 - gorgeous! Can't wait for the leaves to turn their beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange. The kids love that too, however, they don't care much for raking up those leaves after they have fallen-who does?
My oldest son, Tony, turns 20 in a few days - YIKES! How can he be 20 when I am only 29...? :) Seems like only yesterday I delivered that 9 pound bundle of cuteness. If you're reading Tony, Happy Birthday and behave yourself! :)
Has anyone heard Lori McKenna's new CD? For those of you who don't know Lori you can read about her here http://www.lorimckenna.com. Lori is going to be featured in our Mom Writer's Literary magazine summer 2008 issue and I am honored. Lori's PR people sent me copies of her new CD and I finally got a chance to listen this weekend and I will tell you that this singer, songwriter, wife and mother of five from Stoughton, Massachusetts has a beautiful voice (and can play guitar!) and what I really loved about her songs was that I could totally relate to the words she wrote - "No frills, no fuss/Perfectly us, unglamorous." As a mother of five myself, I felt drawn to Lori and her music instantly and I am very excited to have her as a part of our literary magazine for moms. I wish you all the best Lori McKenna and I look forward to working with you. Your talented musical "discovery" couldn't have happened to a nicer mama :)
OK, that's it for me today. I've got a list of things to do and need to get to it!
Have a wonderful week and drop me a line in my comments box if you have the time :)
Cheers!
Paula
Soccer mom and good times with a friend
Happy September! I LOVE the month of September (and October). My favorite time of year here in Vermont. If you have never been to the state, especialy during the fall season, you just have to visit - it's gorgeous :)
Soccer season has started for my guys and once again I've morphed into soccermama for the next month or so. I love it though - so much exercise for the kids and for me, running my mouth and screaming from the sidelines...It's a great game, really.
I had a great day last Friday. My girlfriend Deb and I went out for lunch for my birthday at a new spot we've never lunched at before and it was wonderful - plus the girlfriend chit chat time means so much...thanks Deb :)
Have a super week everyone!
~Paula
A twelve year old's yearly physical
So I was up this morning at 4:30am and my body and head were screaming, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING PAULA?!!!!!! I have to get up and get going, I moaned back at myself. NOT a morning I want to get up early (my birthday for gosh sakes!) however, I had things to do before getting the kids up and out the door for school at 7:45am. Plus, I have started back to school. Yes, that's right. I have decided to go back to school just because I love it so much (yea right). It's going to be quite busy between my blog, my mag, my books, school, and oh yea, the family :) No prob, I'm thinking positive, happy, happy thoughts...
Anyhoo, at 8:45am I pick up my 12 year old middle schooler, Joseph, as he has an appointment at the pediatrician for his yearly (sports) physical. I go in to the school, meet him and sign him out and just as suspected, as we are walking to the car the questions begin. No, not am I going to get a shot type questions, it went more like this...
J - Soooo, mom, what time is my appointment?
Me - Nine O'clock J.
J- Yea, cool, and uh, who is doing the physical?
Me - Well, Dr Price is not in, I think he is on vacation.
J - OK...
Me - Your appointment today is with the pediatric nurse practitioner Ms Manns.
(SILENCE)
Me- I'm anxious to see how tall you've gotten and how much you weigh now J.
J - Um, mom, is this nurse practitioner going to, you now, does she need to...?
Me - Need to do what J?
J - You know (eyes rolling and hands gesturing south)...
Me - Ah, you mean will she be doing the hernia check?
J - Yep, that thing.
Me - I'm not exactly sure J but I know your older brothers have had to have that done for their sports physical.
(SILENCE)
Me - Everything OK J? I ask as we are walking into the office.
J - Yea
So after his physical the nurse practitioner comes out with J to the waiting room and lets me know that all is well and we leave...
Me - How you doing?
J - Fine.
Me - Wow, you have gotten taller and gained some weight, huh? The nurse practitioner said you are right where you should be on the growth chart - that's excellent J.
J- Yea.
Me - SO, did she do the hernia check?
J - Well it's weird. She said she had to do that but she only looked at it.
Me - Only looked at it. No turn your head and cough, just looked at it?
J - RIGHT.
Me - OK. Soooo, did I give you lunch money sweetie...?
J - All set.
Me - Here we are, back to school! Love you J...
J - Bye mom.
Poor kid. Oh the joys of the sports physical for boys...At least he's getting taller.
Have a great week!
Paula
My week so far
...and what a crazy busy week it's been! I am EXHAUSTED and need a nap.
So, the kids are all back to school - except the oldest, Tony, who is here with us and leaving tonight to head back to UMASS. Nick started classes Monday at UCONN and of course called to say he needed more money for books and what not, Phillip started on Tuesday and his big news was that he has a new girlfriend and she is a junior (one year ahead of him), Joseph started Wednesday, and again, his news, he has a girlfriend AND two others who want to be his girlfriend - wonderful. And Anna started Kindergarten today and did super :) Her teacher is a doll and I just know she is going to have a great year - which makes mom rest easier. Hope all the moms out there who got there kids off to school recently got off to a great start :) I know one thing for sure - I am sleeping in this weekend! Here's the rugrats this morning all ready to go...
Got to go for now - Tony and I have lots of running around to do today before he leaves for school...
Have a fab Labor Day weekend!
~Paula
A trip to the lake
So we finally went. We packed up and decided to put our work aside (and get the wallets out) and headed to Lake Winnipesaukee, NH - one of our favorite family vacation spots. The kids want to stay there. Several times I have heard "Why can't we just buy a vacation house here on the lake and come here all the time, why??" Don't I wish. My reply, "The day we win the lottery, we'll do just that." I can dream can't I? So we spent hours eating, shopping, eating, playing by the water, eating, sight seeing, eating, playing putt putt (which I must mention here that mom was the big winner :)) and eating. Groovy. Hey, do any of you moms remember those candy cigarettes from your younger days, you know, the ones that used to be SO cool, sucking on that cancer stick, and then you would gobble them up? They were totally harmless (other than the loads of sugar eating away at your teeth). Well, we are in this shop, one of my gangs favorite shops on the lake, and my two younger boys spot the damn candy cigarettes. I'm trying to persuade them to buy the candy necklaces instead, but no dice, they aren't going to be caught dead wearing those god awful things...OK. So I figure, what the heck, we're on vacation and we're just having fun - no harm - no real nicotine and tar, just sugar. The damn candy cigarettes got all the attention at The Pirates Cove Putt Putt. Here's my guys pretending to be scurvy pirates (and all the other kids there thought they were so cool) but you see their little sister Anna...she knows they are REAL pirates - just ask her :)
Here's a shot of me with my pirates :) 
And now back to reality...laundry, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, laundry, working, laundry.....
Have a good one!
~ Paula
Pirates and the Today Show
Well that third and final Pirates movie was quite interesting...and LONG. (However Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are easy on the eyes :)). I took the boys to see the Pirates movie the other day and throughout the entire show I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on - as were the boys. It was confusing as we had heard from many others, however, we were happy that Elizabeth ended up with Will and that Jack Sparrow was alive and well. Overall, we enjoyed it along with the popcorn. Disney has done it again.
Again for those who have asked, here is a link to the Today Show. It was great fun and I have heard from many friends and family on how they enjoyed it - thanks again to the NBC producers and camera crew who were such fun to work with - you're the best!
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=3aada3ce-2355-4ac1-a7cd-04a819e673d0&f=05&fg=rss
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Watch for the launch of Mom Writer's Lit Mag out Monday, June 25th with the one and only Janet Evanovich!
~Paula :)
Today Show excitement and Rock Star Momma
So I'm reading another outstanding novel by Jodi Picoult entitled Second Glance. It's one of her earlier books with ghosts and ghost hunters in the Vermont Green Mountains. :) Really good book, again. Thanks Jodi!
I'm so excited...as you may know my magazine Mom Writer's Lit Mag has gone to print and it launches on the 25th of June! Two of my local papers will be announcing the good news next week Monday and Thursday - check out The Burlington Free Press and The Herald with the big news!
Well I was suprised to get an email the other day from Skye Hoppus's publicity agent. Skye is married to Mark Hoppus, formerly with the band Blink 182, now +44. She wants to be interviewed - woo hoo!! How cool is that I ask you?! Her new book Rock Star Momma: The Hip Guide to Looking Gorgeous Through All Nine Months and Beyond (Atria) sounds so awesome-I can't wait to read the copy they are sending me. My guys LOVE +44 (and they also loved Blink 182). Can't wait to chat with Skye - you won't want to miss it :)
About the NBC Today Show thrill...How Fun!!! One of the Today Show producers and a camera crew came to my home in Vermont for the day on Wednesday the 13th and we had a great time! The segment is on "puntually challenged moms" (ME) and it is to air next week Thursday the 21st! The author of Never Be Late Again, 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged, Diana DeLonzor, will be talking about how to improve the lives of the punctually challenged (can't wait to read this book too!). So if you are a late mama, this is the book for you :)
Time for this mom to hit the sack-jack. That's all for now. Have a jazzy weekend!
Ciao,
~Paula
I'm back...
and what a wonderful time I had!!! I love visiting NYC! I have to mention that on Wednesday I chatted with Jodi Picoult and we had our picture taken together...what an awesome mom writer and person :)
I also got to meet Christina Katz, mom author of "Writer Mama" which is an excellent book to check out this summer. There were endless literary agents and editors that I was thrilled to meet and talk with AND Mom Writer's Literary Magazine was a huge hit! I brought along hundreds of our premier issues (June) and they were gone by 10:30am and the organizer for the conerence asked me if I had brought more :)
What are you reading lately? Anything good and juicy?! I just finished (during my trip) Alice Hoffman's new novel Skylight Confessions. Really good book. I enjoy her writing style so check this one out.
So now that I am back from the city it is back to work. Fun, fun! Summer is just around the corner...
Enjoy!
~Paula
Spring has sprung
That's right. Finally spring shows it's face here in Central Vermont and it's about damn time. It's sunny and 60 degrees today - beautiful. So why am I sitting here, inside, at my desk? I'm thinking about moving my laptop out on the front porch and get cozy in my rocking chair with my yellow lab at my feet and a fresh squeezed lemonade....sound good? Oh yea, cancel that. I just looked at the clock and remembered I need to pick up one of my sons in an hour for a doctor appointment and I have piles of laundry that need to be folded before that. Such is life.
So, I have lots going down. The magazine is coming along great - getting closer to sending it off to the printer (in about 2 weeks)! One would never even imagine how much work goes into putting together and launching a print magazine. I thought the online mag was a lot of work and time - it doesn't even come close to the work and time involved in getting out a print issue. BUT, I LOVE it! The launch date is June 25th, however, my printer will have them ready one month ahead for the premier issue as I will be in NYC the end of May at the Writer's Digest Conference with MWLM on display and complimentary copies for all guests...I know, I know, so cool! Then there is BEA the following few days - so much going on. We are also planning MWLM launch party! At this time plans are set for Boston at the end of June but I will announce more when the plans are finalized. This is a party you DON"T want to miss.
Anybody reading a GOOD book these days? I read The Mother-Daughter Project which was excellent. I highly recommend this book to mothers of daughters and to older daughters. Great info. I just started reading Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues who is in the hot seat at the moment and so far so good Lisa. Then I am looking SO forward to reading Jacquelyn Mitchard's upcoming novel STILL SUMMER. Jackie sent me the ARC (advanced reading copy) last week and along with it was this teeny tiny message in a bottle with shells and sand inside - so cool, I love it! (Oh, it kinda goes along with the fiction story) :)
Better run - the laundry and foot doctor are calling...
Ciao, Paula
BOSTON...in April
WELL, we pulled it off. The whole family met Friday for our Boston Easter weekend (and the husband's birthday). What a fabulous time we had while there Friday through Sunday! I LOVE Boston and so do the kids. AND it was chilly as predicted, however, the snow and rain NEVER happened as predicted - thank GOD! And the food....we ate at so many wonderful restaurants that I'm sure I gained at least 2 of the 5 1/2 pounds that I recently lost!! (Although I may have walked it off). Oiy. Anyhoo, we are planning our next trip back already :)
My two younger boys have their spring break next week. Should be lively around here with the sounds of drums and guitars...Ya gotta love it! Baseball season is supposed to be right around the corner (2 weeks) for my guys but how the hell can anyone play baseball in 8 inches of snow?! I'm telling them it will be delayed this year but they are hoping mom is wrong.
All is going fantastic with my magazine MWLM and thanks to everyone who has ordered a subscription for our summer print issue! Don't miss out on some awesome writing from our very talented mom writers and authors in our spring issue as well! And please check out my blog at Real Savvy Moms. It is a fabulous website and TV to boot :)
Check out me with the kids out front of Davio's Restaurant for Easter Brunch, downtown Boston :)
Chow, Paula
Has it been two weeks?!
NO, this is not me responding to the hubby last night...
It's been two weeks, I just realized, since my last post! Well, here I am tired as hell, but I'm here. I've been a tad BUSY. Between all five kids winter breaks (staggered of course) and with WORK! I would kill to get five straight hours of shut eye (with BOTH eyes shut).
I do have exciting, BIG news that I'm just all bubbly about (but not supposed to say anything about just yet)...OK, it has to do with my online magazine for mom writers and authors. WE ARE GOING TO PRINT!!! Oh, did I say that? Oh well, hell yes, I said it! Here's the scoop.
MY online literary magazine for mom writers and authors (Mom Writer's Literary magazine) two year anniversary is coming up this summer in June. Our print issue will be launching on June 25th so please check out www.momwriterslitmag.com starting with our online spring launch (March 26th) to pre-order your subscription (and get a 25% savings!), or check out Amazon.com soon or your local Independent bookstores :) If you enjoy creative writing that's intelligent, complex, penetrating and raw - and sometimes a bit humorous, then MWLM is the mom magazine for you...or your bestest friend, your mother, your sister and so on and so on...
OH, and one more thing -- our summer cover story is the one and only...Janet Evanovich :) You DON'T want to miss this! And our author profiles...let's just say that the BITCHES are in the house!
I'll be in NYC the very end of May, early June with more news to come on the magazine so stay tuned...
Wanna hear what I'm reading? I just bought Jodi Picoult's latest novel - Nineteen Minutes Though this story will rip you apart inside and leave you feeling for all the characters involved, Nineteen Minutes is a brilliantly told thriller, compelling and a winner for Picoult, once again - Thanks Jodi :)
Gotta run for now ~ be good!
Chow Mamas, Paula
A Chat With The Boys
Hi all you mommies out there. Welcome back to What Did You Do All Day? OK. I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW, it has been ages since I have blog podcasted. Hope you've had an awesome February. Can you even believe the month of February is gone? March is here and spring will soon be here too! I really don't want to think too much about spring because then I start to think about SPRING CLEANING - Yuck! Let's talk about something better :)
Today I'd like to talk about an incredible organization and it's called Reading is Fundamental or RIF. RIF is the nation's largest children's literacy organization and they happen to be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Carol Hampton Rasco is President and CEO of Reading is Fundamental and she can be reached at this Toll Free number: 1 (877) RIF-READ or (202) 536-3400. Their website is www.rif.org. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8 and to motivate them to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. Really awesome so please check them out today!
OK. Also today, I talked with two very special people in my life and they are my two younger boys, Phillip and Joseph. Or better known to their circle of friends as Phil and Joe and to me, their mom, as Phildog and J. My son Phillip who is a 9th grader is on his winter break this week and Joseph, who is in middle school, was on break last week but had a snow day from school today which also happens to be his 12th birthday - Happy Birthday J!! We chatted about their music. I figured since that is one huge love in their lives why not chat with them about it? Phildog plays the bass guitar, the electric guitar and the piano and J plays the drums, the electric guitar, and the piano. So, you would never guess one of the items on J's birthday wish list this year - nope never. A MANDOLIN. Yep. So I asked him the other day who was going to teach him to play the Mandolin and he replied simply, "I am of course." OK. The kid is musical, what can I say?
So please check out the podcast below by clicking on the link to hear my conversation with Phil and Joe and then they even played a song for us - Cool!
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