Paris. The Interesting One.

We are all feeling better, so to celebrate, the HcQ and I went to Paris.
Paris, Je T'aime
You really should see it if you can.
It's just beautiful.

(And if you also can't get through the Juliette Binoche scenes without completely and uncontrollably melting down, then please let me know so that I don't feel like the sole emotionally overachieving basketcase that I was in the theater.)

Sicko.

It's more than just a Michael Moore flick. It perfectly describes everyone in my household. Including me. Because we have received a visit from the stomach virus that wouldn't take no for an answer, and there's nothing any of us has experienced lately that you want to know anything about.

So I'll just post a few photos of the Hurricane taken sometime not so long ago when we were all eating and sleeping.

Hm. Could it be that he's sick because we feed him ice cream shakes?

Potentially.

But I blame the Gymboree tats.

Perspective.

It's Sunday morning, and it feels really early because I've been up all night.

You see, I had about a thousand deadlines and to-dos to address yesterday...and these days, the only time I can really get anything checked off my list is after the Hurricane has fallen asleep. However, last night, he never really did. Because he's been throwing up almost every hour since bedtime. And I think most of us know that doesn't really make for great snoozing. So after I made a very early call to our saintly pediatrician and a prescription pickup, the Hurricane is finally asleep.

But now I'm wired.

Because I spent a night snuggling with my favorite kid. The one who usually hates to snuggle. And even though I'm completely exhausted, and my list is even longer, I'm so incredibly grateful.

Especially when I think about this tragedy. I don't know this family, but my heart was broken after reading what was posted at sk*rt eariler in the evening, from Karen Rani's post...where I found out how we could help.

I happened upon it right before the Hurricane woke up for the first time.
And I've never been more thankful to stay up all night with my son.

So You And Me Are Free To Be You And Me As Long As We're Like You?

I live in a city that also happens to house one of the best creative writing programs around, and two years ago, I was lucky enough to take an evening class there.

On the second or third night of class, I ran in late, as is often the case, straight from work. Pregnant. In heels. No big deal. You see, I always wear heels. And I do this almost exclusively because I can’t wear flats, because flats kill my feet. Kill. I don’t know why this is, but it is. And sometimes it’s a little annoying. Mainly to those around me. I thought that this would for sure change when I became pregnant, so I happily loaded up on sensible flat shoes. However, as it happened, the more gigantic I became, the more my feet needed the lift. So back to the heels I went, and I could run again.

So, I ran in late to this class. And the woman sitting next to me began to outright chastise me about the wearing of the heels. I think her exact words included the phrases “it was obvious that I was oppressed by men…oppressed exactly like a Chinese girl with bound feet...and really, those shoes couldn't possibly be my choice and couldn't possibly be working for me.”

Right.

Fascinating.

The heels that I purchased with the money that I made in the job I that chose were binding me in a way equal to that of a small child forced to wear tight bandages over 1,000 years ago. Really? Perhaps even binding me like her stupidity was binding her?

Please.

And please tell me whatever happened to "free to be you and me"? When I was a young tomboy learning to run around in whatever was comfortable, I spent rainy days inside watching William want dolls and learning it was alright to cry. I also happened to be learning about empowerment. And watching both my parents live it in their own ways. So now I know it when I see it. And I know it looks different for everyone.

It means liking politics and pumps, or the latest technologies and the latest trends.

It means being a stay-at-home parent. Or a working parent. Or a working at home parent. Or all of the above depending on the week.

It also means choosing not to be a parent or a husband or a wife or a long list of all kinds of things. Because it means choosing.

Deciding.

Being allowed to be your most authentic self. And celebrating others doing the same. Even if they’re doing it differently from you. In nation, persuasion, color, form, or belief. Liberally. Conservatively. Wearing pink jewelry. In World of Warcraft. Raving about design. Or debates. Or the Dixie Chicks.

Even if they’re girly. And even if they’re not.

I get that. Because there’s a tomboy hiding under my sk*rt. A tomboy who likes necklaces. And bubble baths. And Helen Reddy. And Mother Teresa. And Gloria Steinem. And heels.

And that works for me.

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This post is a tiny part of the Parent Bloggers Network Blog Blast happening this week with sk*rt. Bloggers everywhere are encouraged to write a post on the topic “What Are You Hiding Under Your Sk*rt?” sometime this week, and then load that post up onto sk*rt (then send the link to PBN, you can get all the deets here). The person who gets the MOST votes (not comments, votes) on their post at sk*rt WINS!

What do you win, you ask?

A birth necklace with birthstone from Little Jules

A tee or tank and stationery from Pro Mom Couture

Rock Star Momma, a book by Sky Hoppus (wife of a Blink 182 member) with forward by Gwyneth Palrow.

A Little Capers tee

A $50 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble

Total value: $275

We’ll announce the winner on Friday June 22 at 11:59pm.

Not bad huh?

So tell us, what are you hiding under your sk*rt?

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And wow. I just read a really fantastic post that Jenny just wrote on this same topic. She roars. And she rocks.

Democracy with Benefits.

Now that the sk*rt mega-super-duper server is up and running we can get back to giving away stuff.

For instance, check out today’s contest. Anyone who places at least 5 votes in the popular section, plus at least 5 votes in the up-and-coming section, is automatically entered to win this gorgeous heirloom necklace (retail: $190) from The Fine Art of the Family.


So get to it. Vote early, vote often. You may not see this caliber of voting bribe again until the Iowa primary. I'm just saying.

MamaDramaConQueso

So the Saturday par-tay was fantastic. The margs were strong. The group, diverse and so fun. The conversations, hilarious, and smart, and so very interesting. I think I can best sum it up by quoting Jenny...because no one says it better than Jenny...ever...

MDcQ = "Dozens of Texas bloggers from all different parts of the blogosphere in one room with cocktails and mexican food. It was freaking awesome, I think. I say "I think" because I don't totally remember anything after I had what was possibly the strongest margarita in the history of the world. I do remember discussing porn, serial killers and boobs."

For more sketchy deets, check out Jenny's post here. She also posted most of the photos I'd taken (and thank got, she did so I don't have to post them), so you can see them there too. Or here. Oh but here are two of my faves I haven't seen posted elsewhere ....

This one of me and Karen that I love.

And this one of me and Jenny.
I think she's drunk.
And potentially plotting something evil.

Baby, I was Born to Walk

So I signed up for the Houston Marathon yesterday. To walk it. Because I figured if I ran it, I'd be walking it anyway, so why not just be purposeful about the walking from the start. I'm also just going to let you know now that I'm purposefully going to not be completing it in 2 hours and 11 minutes (and man, those guys who always win it are completely lucky I'm just walking this one out). However, I still need to start the training. So lucky for me Ryan Wright, the smart guest blogger on Design Mom, posted this excellent link to make your own Nikes. I've already designed about 18 pairs. And a few of them aren't pink.

Oh, It's On!

(And Evil Dwight will be in the house.)

There will be a super secret announcement and a shocking dramatic twist.
Plus Molinas.

Let me know if you're in.

If I Could Only Put It In a Bottle...

...It would be a bottle of gin. With tonic. And lime.

Ah time.

Where are you? Where do you go?

You defintely don't go to sleep. You go to my favorite person, the HcQ. To my favorite energetic little boy, the Hurricane (If only I could only find a way to kiss his little cheeks all freaking day long!). To my beliefs. To my friends. To my job. Hopefully in that order. That's the goal anyway. And of course many days, the order and my priorities are all out of whack. Plus, new things are coming up all the time.

Like for instance, this week.

This week my time has gone here.

*This entry is brought to you by me. In response to the 'where does your time go' question Blast you to Blogher party sponsored by Light Iris and Parent Bloggers Network. They've got it going on.

Thursday's D*rt.

There's been a lot of buzz about sk*rt over the last three days. And I want to let you know how incredibly grateful I am to all of you for going to check it out, for telling some of your friends about it, and for emailing me your thoughts on it. I'm absolutely loving seeing you guys there and hearing from you.

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After only three days, we are in the process of transfering sk*rt over to a much larger capacity server, but it's pretty much a 48 hours+ process. So if it's hard to get onto sk*rt today because it's busy, my apologies in advance. The techies are on it, and they're processing it. Or something.

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Also, if you didn't get over to sk*rt yesterday to enter yourself in the Shutterfly Custom Photo Book Contest, consider this your reminder. It's a great prize. And really easy to enter — just submit at least one item to sk*rt and comment on at least 3 items. If you've done this already, you're automatically entered. You have until midnight tonight pst! And my God, I hope you win.

The Digg Effect.

So. Sk*rt was on the front page of Digg sometime in the middle of the night. We received approximately a kabillion hits. And our server host shut us down. That's right, the server host of the party threw everyone out, shut out the lights, and called the cops. Okay, maybe not called the cops, but the net effect is the same. And the digg effect is in effect. We had talked about this happening and needing to potentially step up to a big fancy expensive server...we just didn't think it would need to happen on the second day. Classic. So we're working on it. Thanks for you patience. And thank you, thank you, thank you for making sk*rt such a fabulous and interesting place so amazingly quickly!

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UPDATE: Okay, sk*rt is back.

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On another note, I'm joining Jenny and the gals to host the first ever MamaDramaConQueso party...and we won't be shuttin' the server down (or the bartender) down...Saturday 6/16 at 11:30 a.m. at Molinas in Htown. That's right. 11:30 a.m. In Texas, we party early. And we also use party as a verb. So, if you're in town or in state, come on! And it's not just for bloggers (that's right, I'm talking to you Super Zoe, law boy and others...yeah, you em, and you, and you and you). So come on! But let me know if you're coming. I would hate a little something like traffic to shut me down twice in two weeks.

Even More is Up-and-Coming...

I found some excellence on the sk*rt Up-and-coming section this morning. Check it out.

A lovely recipe blog called La Tartine Gourmande.Found here.


Menta! Artwork and gifts on the Modish page.

Found here.

And my favorite... a fantastic little article on sk*rt. Found here.

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Today, we're having another sk*rt contest focusing on the Up-and-coming section. Today's giveaway will work much like yesterday's contest from Organize Magazine , but with a one change. We want our new users to check out all the great content that's being added to sk*rt each day. Yesterday, there were over 12 pages of content added to sk*rt. And as you'll remember, items only make it to the Popular section when they receive a certain amount of votes. Which means most of that new content waits patiently in the Up-and-Coming section waiting for your attention. And there's usually some pretty cool stuff in there.



So here's today's (Tuesday's) contest: Starting at 1:00 est/10:00 pst, the first 30 people who vote for 5 or more items in the Up-and-Coming category will be entered to win 30 Custom Party Invitations from Anna Bella Fine Stationery! The winner can choose any design from Anna Bella's Occasion section. Plus, the prize includes color printing, personalized text and printed envelopes — a $65 value with free priority shipping within the U.S.

Check out Anna Bella Fine Stationery to see dozens of other great designs. Remember, you need to be registered and logged-in at sk*rt to vote. Good luck. And have fun discovering all those new up-and-coming links!

Is it addicting or what?

I'd Like To Introduce You to Sk*rt.

Exactly four months ago today, while hunky Peyton Manning was winning the Super Bowl, I was on the phone with three bloggers...Gabrielle, Laurie, and Rebecca... and we were talking about how cool it would be if there were one spot online where we could find a variety of excellence. A portal of cool. Something like Digg, but with items that interested us. Because, seriously, Digg is brilliant. But how cool would it be if it had different content? Pretty darn, that’s what.

So, Gabby, being the always can-do kinda gal, said something like…”well, let’s make it happen.”

So we did.

Introducing Sk*rt.

Sk*rt is an online media ranking site created for and by women, featuring topics women dig. It is designed to promote sites, blogs, video, products, articles, ideas, art, etc. and more to women and to the men who want to get in our heads. So check it out. Overall, it's pretty self-explanatory... plus just in case it's not, there are several explanation sections here and here and here and here (including an FAQ and even a quick instruction video featuring the lovely Gabrielle/Design Mom).

But overall, it's a one-stop spot where you can go to find other cool stuff. It's designed so that you can browse through the most popular items pretty quickly and hop onto other sites that interest you. Or, you can browse through it for quite a while, finding new stuff all the time. The content is completely developed by users, so it's always updating, changing and growing.

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Support Sk*rt.
There are a few things I'd be thrilled if you'd do to help spread the word.

1. Visit sk*rt and have a look . Play around on it. Vote on a few things that look interesting to you. Or submit something (put your favorite blog, product, organization, news item, whatever, on there). Mainly, I'd just love to hear what you think after you visit.

2. Tell your friends about it. If you have a blog, post something on it. If you have any other ideas to spread the word, let us know.

3. If you have a blog or Web site, put this sk*rt badge on your site. You can find a variety of sk*rt badge options and code to dump into your site here.

Then let us know you've helped spread the sk*rt love by emailing us at sharethelove@sk-rt.com . (If you have any problems with it, let us know that too.) Anyone who publishes a sk*rt button to his/her site (and lets us know about it) is entered to win some amazing prizes in a fabulous package sponsored by 6 hip vendors — Jaime Zollars Studio, Funktion Home, Darlybird, Nora Fleming, and Little Jules — companies owned and run by women.

That's some serious loot — retailing upwards of $500. The winner will be picked at random and announced on July 16th, 2007. You can read much more about this fab contest here.

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AND. If you want to try and win something today....we're having a little contest. Starting today... Monday, June 4th at 1:00 pm est/10:00 am pst ... the first 25 people who vote for 5 or more items on sk*rt are automatically entered to win a free, year-long subscription to the brand new Organize Magazine. You can read more about that contest here.

Pretty cool, huh?

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So today, which happens to be the anniversary of the day in 1919 when Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote (as Kara pointed out), I wanted to let you know about sk*rt.

Honestly, we're pretty pumped about all of it. We designed sk*rt because we wanted to have something like it for ourselves. Plus, we'd love to do a little part in helping get the word out that there are smart women leading the social media revolution. You know. The social media revolution. It's like Prince and the Revolution. With less purple satin and more typing.

Enjoy.