Boymom's Blogoversary Giveaway Bash - Go Go Pets!!

My regular readers know that we have pet issues here at my home. Our only real pet is Blackie Chan: Ninja Cat. But I find myself saying no to lots of other creatures who Little Man thinks would like to live indoors. Like these. And these. So you can imagine I was really happy to find out about these.

Go Go Pets Rock. All the Hamster fun without all the hamster mess. Pets without poop. What a concept!

I have 2 Go Go Pets to give away to some lucky readers! All you have to do is go read my review and come back and leave a comment. Preferably about the review, but you know...whatever.

And if you refer a friend to come enter the contest, I'll give you 3 extra entries. If you blog about my contests, I'll give you 3 more entries. Twitter it? 3 more. You know the drill! Contest Ends June 3rd, 12 midnight. Winners will be announced on June 4th.

BTW...these hamsters have only just been released in Phoenix. They won't be released to the rest of the country 'til the fall of this year, so this is really one of those cool moments in toy history where you could be ahead of the curve. Your kids will love you for winning this thing. Trust me. It's that cool.

Boymom Blogoversary Giveaway Bash - Walmart Gift Card!

Day 2 of my Blogoversary Party and I am havin' a good time! How 'bout you!?!

I've been reminiscing about the beginning days of my blog. One of my first posts was about the heat. Cause I started the blog about this time last year. When it was hot. Like it is now. Which made me remember how much I hate the heat. Which made me remember that post. Which made me think about having to go to the store today, which led to this giveaway. Did you follow all of that? Keep reading, eventually it wall all make sense.

Many of you who know me personally know I am not big on shopping. Of any kind. I do it because I have to and every once in awhile I get an inkling to go look around and do a bit of fun shopping, but it's just not an "I have to shop or I'll die" kind of thing with me. Maybe it has to do with lack of spendable cash. Maybe it has to do with not liking my current body. Maybe I'm just a really impatient person who doesn't like to deal with busy stores and crazy parking lots. Probably it has ALOT to do with summer heat and me not wanting to do anything that requires me to fry my brain by being out in it.

The good news is that I know many of you LOVE to shop and while this next gift is not a ton of money, it will at least get you in the door and back out with something in your bag from Wal-Mart. It's A $10 WalMart giftcard - just enough to buy a few cartons of ice cream or some squirt guns or neck coolies to help you cool down this summer.

Leave a comment about the funniest thing you have ever seen at Wal-mart or whatever you feel like commenting about and you can win the $10 Wal-mart giftcard!

Contest ends on Monday June 1st, winner will be announced on June 2nd!

Middle of the Week Blogoversary Giveaway Bash!

I posted on my real Blogoversay back on May 8th and I told you then we'd celbrate with some kind of party, so let's DO THIS THANG! I've thought long and hard about the best way to hold my Blog Party Giveaway Bash and in the end, it just didn't seem right to make everyone jump through a bunch of hoops to win a prize. I mean, we all have enough hoops to jump through in real life as it is, right? So let's just share some thoughts and experiences and enjoy the party!!

And who says we have to wait for the weekend to PARTAY! Boymom's 1st Anniversary Blog Party Starts Today!! There will be lots of fun and prizes, so come hang out with my blog for a few minutes throughout the rest of the week and let's chat about the things you like and dislike here at I Am Boymom, so I can work on making sure you wanna spend some time with me for another year!

First thing's first though, let's do a giveaway! I recently did a review about Drycleaner's Secret. The good folks from Woolite sent me 2 more kits to give away! So leave a comment about your worst drycleaning experience by Sunday, May 31st and we'll pick 2 random winners on Monday, June 1st! You can read about my worst experience with dryclean only clothes on the Drycleaner's Secret review if you are so inclined. For the record, it did not actually involve a drycleaner.

Then tune in tomorrow and we'll have a new giveaway! Whoo-hoo! I am in such a good mood right now and I have to say, it's been a while since I've felt this happy. Parties are good that way, aren't they? See ya tomorrow!

Jessica Biel and I have the Same Problem

Jessica Biel is having a hard time in Hollywood. Apparently Jessica believes "that being too good-looking can be a problem for an actress."

I KNOW!! I had the same problem, Jessica! That's why I moved to the desert and destroyed my looks and body by having 2 kids and then let go of my personal trainer and dietician. Funny thing though...even with mom body and normal looks, I still get no calls from casting directors or movie producers. What's up with that?

The Circus is Coming! The Circus is Coming!

I remember when I was 9, we lived in the small town. One morning my dad ran outside where we were playing and told us to hurry up and jump in the truck. We ran to the truck and he headed to the center of town, about 15 minutes from our house. He parked the truck in a parking lot with the pickup bed facing the street and threw down the tailgate and sat us up there. When we asked him what was going on, he just said "Wait and see." He ran across the street to grab us an ice cream cone from the Dairy Queen (you could do that back then, no one would come steal your kids or your truck and we sat there because it never occured to us not to sit there like he told us to do. There were about 50 other kids running around by us waiting for their folks to come back from Dairy Queen too.)

Just as he ran back across the street and shoved the cones into our hands, we heard an incredible roar of music and some weird animal sounds. Suddenly a very tall man and some other performers appeared from around the corner and started down the street toward us, with a full band and a bunch of stuff behind them! What ensued was my first experience with the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. It was AWESOME!! It was a parade down Main Street and it was incredible to watch! My dad watched us as we watched the parade and the performers and it was one of the best days of my young childhood.


The elephant part looked a lot like this, only there was a scantily dressed lady riding one of them. I remember the elephants had a particularly stong impact on me, partly due to their size and partly due to the giant poo! I remember feeling so sorry for the guy who had to clean it up. The clowns ran and drove around like hilarious madmen and there was confetti and balloons and music and candy being thrown by performers...it was such a great day!

Then, as if that weren't great enough...we got to go to the circus that night and see the show! It was the perfect end to a perfect day. Kids remember perfect days...I remember this one.

My kids get to experience the circus this year for the first time! Mom Central and Feld Entertainment are sending us to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey "Zing Zang Zoom" Show in June. The show incorporates magic and illusion with traditional circus arts, which should make for a very entertaining event. I cannot wait to hear Little Man squeal when they make an elephant disappear! Actually, the real feat would be making the elephant poo disappear!

Here are the show dates, it will be held at US Airways Center:
Wednesday June 24: 7:00pm
Thursday June 25: 11:00am, 7:00pm
Friday June 26: 11:00am, 7:00pm
Saturday June 27: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday June 28: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

You can purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging on to http://ticketmaster.com/ and entering the coupon code: MOM. You can get additional tickets for just $11 each.

And be sure to check back in the coming days, I am working on procurring some tickets to give away on the blog!

National Mom's Nite Out

Did you do anything for National Mom's Nite Out on May 7th? I learned how to preserve meats and fruits through home canning! I know...sounds kind of boring, but actually it was really fun and helpful! We learned how to do several kinds of meat. Hamburger looked gross, but actually tasted pretty decent. Pork and Beef were okay, but I prefer the canned chicken. It is really good for casseroles and chicken tacos and it was incredibly easy to do. I love just opening a jar and having already cooked chicken, it saves me lots of time in the kitchen.

I can save a ton of money by buying the chicken when it's on sale and by canning it, it will stay preserved on the pantry shelf for a few years. No having to worry about my bags of frozen chicken breasts going bad if the electricity goes out for any length of time. Now I just have to scrape up the money to get a really cool pressure cooker to do the job. Which kind of takes away from the money I save canning, but eventually I will end up saving money...right?

I want to give a shout out and special thanks to Mom Select and Maria Bailey for organizing a nationwide Mom's Nite Out. Heaven knows we moms need a break once in awhile and this was the perfect way to take a night off and enjoy some time with other hardworking moms. Another shout out and thank you to Unilever and Ragu! Ragu was nice enough to send some sauce and noodles for Dad, so he could fix dinner for himself and the kids while I took my Nite Out. I am still in shock at the mess that 2 jars of sauce and pasta can make when put into the hands of a cooking novice. I should have taken pictures...it was seriously unbelievable.

This isn't my picture, I borrowed it from Tinka at RV There Yet. My mess wasn't that big. But it felt that big while I was cleaning it up.

Unilever sent some dinner fare also, along with some coupons that have helped my lower my grocery bill immensely! Thanks to these great companies for supporting a great event!

Can't wait 'til next year!!

Blogoversary Giveaway Extravaganza Starts Next Week!

I told you all last week that I wanted to have a Blogoversary Party. So starting Sunday, May 24th, we'll have a Blogoversary Giveaway Extravaganza, which will include a new giveaway each day next week! I'll be reviewing a few products in the next few days, starting with Woolites Dry Cleaner's Secret. Be sure to read up on them, 'cuz I may have you answer some questions as part of the giveaway. I hope it will be lots of fun for all of my loyal readers!!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and check in on my little corner of the blog. It means a lot to me. So much that I want to give you stuff! So come by and have some fun next week, make a few hilarious comments and maybe win a prize. No RSVP's necessary, we're pretty casual around here at I Am Boymom. Mostly cause I don't have to clean my blog to have folks visit, unlike my real house. On that note, guess I'd better get back to the dishes. See ya at the party!

Big Brother Meets His Future

My young son has wanted to be a military man since he was 2 years old. As a mother, this evokes different feelings. Of course I feel proud and happy that he has such a strong love for his country, especially at such a young age. His patriotism is touching and his sense of duty remains intact as the years go by, regardless of my somewhat selfish desire for it to fade, maybe just a little. Because truth be told, as much as I would love him to follow his calling, I fear for his safety should he pursue a military career. But I would never tell him that. I want him to be happy. I want him to pursue his dream. And how can you get mad at a kid whose dream is to protect his country!? So I silently endure, and even encourage his passion, with so much love and admiration for this little man, but with just a little fear and trepidation at the possibility that his future may hold trials and tragedy that no one wants to mention and which may take him from me sooner than I would care to think about. But enough of my motherly ramblings.

The point of this is to thank some great guys - Tim Abell (Army Ranger) and Greg Stube (Army Special Forces). My friend and I met them on Friday at the Beretta booth at the NRA Convention. They signed a poster for my son to hang on his wall. When I brought it home, Big Brother was beside himself with excitement and wanted to meet them in person. So we headed back to the show the next day, with Big Brother in his camoflauge clothes, full of hope and excitement. When we found these two guys, Big Brother got a little shy, so I asked them what he wanted to ask: "What can Big Brother do to prepare himself to be the best military man he can be?"

Both men stepped up to the task, with tender hearts, but an earnest desire to offer my son the best advice they could offer a 9 year old kid without scaring the crap out of him. They talked about focus, endurance, physical fitness and obedience. He listened intently and tried to take it all in and walked away feeling very confident that he could do what they told him he would need to do. He heard it from the mouths of men who he now thinks are the best thing since sliced bread.

The crowning moment was when we were finishing up with Greg and Tim. A wonderful older gentleman stepped out of the crowd in his Marine Dress Uniform and walked up to Big Brother. The man had what my husband said looked like the Congressional Medal of Honor on his Uniform. "Young Man," he said as he got down to Big Brother's level, "It doesn't matter what branch of the service you join, what matters is that you serve your country." Then the older man stood up straight and looked my son right in the eye, shook his hand firmly and told Big Brother how proud he was of him for his patriotism and willingness to serve. The lady next to me was in tears, as was I. Big Brother just nodded and stood there, looking very serious as he watched the man walk away. Then he turned to us and asked us what all of the medals on his suit were for. Dad grabbed Big Brother and began to explain the medals as they walked toward the Kimber booth and I stood there with my youngest, knowing that this experience would stay with my future GI for a long, long time.

Then my youngerst had a hunger meltdown and the moment was over. Gotta love Motherhood. Wanna special moment? You can have one, but keep it brief...kids have needs and will make them known - loudly.

How could I have asked for a better day for a kid who thinks the military is the only job on earth?! Three distinguished soldiers just solidified his belief that these are the true heroes of the world. I know most military folks do not like to be called heroes. I know they don't see themselves as anything other that patriots who love serving their country. Well, all I can say is that you are heroes to a 9 year old boy and his mom and there is no sports legend or action hero that I know of that can do for my son what you did for him this weekend. You are the men and women who truly make a difference in this world and you are the folks that I will encourage my son to emulate.

Thank you, Tim and Greg for being the role models I knew you would be. You've had a big impact on a young boy's life.

He hasn't talked much about what they said. I see him thinking hard though, especially when he looks at the poster. And I paid heck getting him to take of his sweaty camoflauge clothes. He wore them all weekend while he played Army. He ate a lot of salad for dinner last night. And this morning he was quick to respond to my requests with "Yes Ma'am." He is anxious to hang up his poster, so I will pick up a frame so he can get it on his wall. He has big plans today at school for his "army club" that he and his friends started at recess. I can only imagine the conversations that will take place at the edge of the lawn on the playgorund today..."Dude! I met an Army Ranger and a Special Forces guy at the convention Saturday! It was awesome!"

Yep, Big Brother...it was awesome. Hooah!

I Feel a Little Less Awkward Now

I found this site courtesy of the Glamorous Life blog...made me feel just a wee bit better about my own lame family pics. This one made me giggle, mostly because of the caption. Okay...I was laughing before I read the caption.


Caption: Double the Pleasure, Double the Built-in Chaps.

Break Pal Winners! Get Ready, Get Set, Rams Head Punches!

Get ready to start workin those arms in between posts ladies, 'cause yer all winners of the Break pal Contest!!

Jenna
Connie
Rachael

Thanks much for entering the contest...watch your email for instructions on how to get your Break Pal account set up!

My Weird Mother's Day Post

Mother's Day. This should have been an easy post for me to write. But my whole experience with mothers, both being one and having one, is pretty complicated. Let's just say I did not have a typical Ozzy and Harriet upbringing and leave it at that, because going into detail is painful for me and confusing for you.

That being said, I want to honor my Mother, even if I am struggling to find the words to do it properly.

I truly love my mom. She is an amazing woman in so many ways, but our relationship has been pretty complicated. I don't blame her. I don't blame me. We were victims of circumstance and that's just how it was. It has taken us all of our lives to figure out how to love each other, but I think we are doing pretty well now. And it could not have come at a better time for me. My mom is a big source of strength for me right now, which is something I was never sure I could experience with her before. I need to thank her publicly for stepping up to be the mom I didn't know I would need so much at 44 years of age.

She's a tough gal. Like John Wayne tough. She had to be. She didn't really have a strong support system. It's taken her a long time to let her soft side show. But she has. And I'm grateful for her efforts to be the mom I've needed for so long. I know it makes her have to deal with her own issues as she tries to help me deal with mine. Nobody likes to talk about that part of being a mom. It's one thing to deal with your issues when you are ready to face them and choose to do so. But it's a whole other thing to have to face your issues and deal with them because someone else is in need of your support and you giving them that support forces you to face things you weren't ready to face. That part sucks.

So I want her to know that I am grateful that she is willing to make the effort, even when it's hard. I want her to know that I am trying to rise to the challenge to be more like her in areas where it counts. I want to absorb her strength, her ability to rise above the problem and keep going, her ability to check the emotions at the door so she can face the tasks of the day without having a meltdown.

And I want to say I'm sorry. Sorry that you have to worry about me. I know that sucks too. I know because I anguish over my own two boys. My heart breaks for them daily because I want everything for them that I didn't have and I am afraid that my issues will get in the way of me preparing them for what lies ahead. How do I teach them to be happy when I can't always get there myself?

But this isn't about me, it's about my mom. Who, by the way, I rarely call mom. It's a long story. I need work on that, because she's earned the title.

There's so much more I should say, but I want to get it right. I want to make it happy and fun and upbeat. Because she is those things too. And so much more. All rolled up into one cute little cowgirl package.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Mel Will Give You One for Free!

My bloggy friend Melanie over at "My Little Patch of Sunshine" is having a giveaway that ends on Mother's Day.

Macy's has teamed up with the Family Violence Prevention Fund and are selling these bracelets with the word RESPECT stamped in them. Half of the proceeds for these $5 bracelets will benefit the RESPECT! campaign, a Family Violence Prevention Fund initiative sponsored by Macy's to raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and children.

Melanie is giving one of the bracelets away on her blog. Stop by her place and enter the contest!

Thinking about the bracelet gave me pause to think long and hard about how I can be more respectful toward my children. It's so easy lately for me to get impatient or snippy with them after being asked the same question 20 times in a row. I need to take the time to make sure my example is one I want them to take with them out into the world.

So thanks for the gentle reminder Melanie. It came at a good time for me.

My 1st Blogoversary!!

One year ago yesterday I started this blog as a way to vent, to archive family events, a way to keep my sanity. It has literally changed my life. Who would have thought that I would meet so many people and have so many wonderful opportunities just by taking a few minutes every so often to share a bit about my life?!

If I'm absolutely honest, in the beginning I was kind of hoping that blogging would cure me of all of my "issues." You know, the daily vent or laugh or cry would just clear out all of the crap and I would be a NEW WOMAN a year or so later! Pretty unrealistic, but typical of my thought patterns lately. I blame my naievete on hormones and lack of housecleaning skills, both of which keep me in a dither a good part of the day.

But while blogging hasn't cured all my ills, it has definitely been cathartic. Writing has helped me step out of my box of problems once in awhile so I could start experiencing life again. So that's a good thing, yeah? Creating I Am Boymom has helped me connect with other folks out in the blogosphere who encourage me to put myself out there and who continually cut me some slack for being behind the curve in the not only the world of technology, but in the world of being organized and functional. They get me. And even if they don't, they accept me where I am at. Which is so...cool. And reassuring.

Sorry - didn't mean to get all weird and emotional, it's just that thinking about all of this...the WHOLE blog experience, makes me get all, you know...wonky.

And now, a year later, my blog is kind of morphing into something that requires me to put some thought into how I want to go forward! So, in honor of my blogoversary, I would love to get some input from my readers. What do you enjoy when you stop by? What would you like to see more or less of when you spend a few of your precious spare moments here? Can I have a review blog and Boymom blog together or does the commercial aspect of promoting products leave you feeling like I Am Boymom has become an infomercial? Or do you even care?

'Cause I'm all about makin' this a group experience. If it ain't fun for you, it ain't fun for me. So be honest! Tell me how you feel!

And then stay tuned for information on my After Blogoversary Party, which will be sometime next week, because I am always running behind! Most of you already know that about me. I promise it will be worth the wait. We'll have fun and there will be prizes!

Until then...it's been a great year. Thanks for the support.

Florastor Kids Winner!

Big Brother chose the winner from his Easter bucket!



Congrats!

I'm Goin' for the Laptop

This is a shameless blog plug to help me win a computer from the 5 Minutes for Mom Mother's Day Giveaway, which ends May 9th. If you need a new Crock Pot...enter the contest. I do not. I don't want to cook more. I want to blog more. So I won't enter the contest for the Crock Pot, thereby making it easier for one of you who likes to cook to win. See what a good bloggy friend I am? I'll even take a picture of the Crock Pot and post it on my blog for you if I win the laptop and you win the Crock Pot, which you will have won because of my great unselfishness in not leaving a comment to win that prize. I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that all of you will do the same for me by not leaving a comment on the laptop giveaway so I can win the the computer...right? Helllloooooo?? Wow. The silence in here is deafening.