Five Recent Favorite Things
by Jenners • 02/12/2009 • Writers Workshop • 44 Comments
“Come on over and check out the other Writer’s Workshop posts!“
Time for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop again, hosted by the talented, funny and very pretty MamaKat. Once again, I’m taking the easy way out and going with the list prompt. And Friday I’ll be doing a list. So I pretty much listed things all this week. But that is because I am working on something fun for Monday that requires all my skills and energy, which are in limited supply right now. So, without further ado, my five most recent favorite things.
1. The Little One has decided he can fall asleep without Mommy being in the room. You have no idea how huge this is. This is (hopefully) the end-game in what has been a long and painful process of getting him to sleep on his own. That fact that is has taken four years amazes me. (Perhaps I should have stuck it out with the “cry it out” method, but I just didn’t have the stomach for it.) This is Night Two, and I’m afraid to trust this yet but I am loving it! (And, yes, I realize I just jinxed it by putting it out here like this.)
2. The amazing things that are happening with my book blog. As some of you know, I have another blog where I like to write book reviews and recommend books that I’ve enjoyed. One of the benefits of this is that I’ve begun to get offered free books to review — sometimes even before they have been formally published. This is a book lovers dream come true! And yesterday, I was invited to interview an author of one of the books I just read! Me — a dorky little housewife — is interviewing an author! I’m in heaven!
3. My husband has gotten himself addicted to playing Call of Duty 4 online. The reason this is so wonderful is now I don’t have to feel guilty blogging! He happily plays his game; I happily blog and no one feels neglected. The computer and the TV are in the same room so we are “together but separate.” The only real downside of this is having to hear “Damn…I just got knifed!”or “Woo-hoo! Perfect head shot!” every so often.
4. The sweet taste of spring that has graced us this week. If Mother Nature is teasing us and takes this away, I will honestly cry. Today I smelled that “spring is in the air” smell, and I swear I saw a goldfinch flying with his distinctive rollercoaster flight pattern. It has been so good to be able to take the Little One to the park, go for a walk in the neighborhood or just hang in the backyard. I know it is only February and I suspect this may go away, but I am loving it right now!
5. Wonderful bloggers who are giving me a positive way to feel like I am doing some small thing to help fight cancer. Perhaps, like me, you’ve been recently reading some of these terribly sad stories of children who recently lost their fight with cancer. So it was with a happy heart that I saw two of my favorite bloggers — Diane at Diane’s Addled Ramblings and Jay at Halftime Lessons — are providing a way to do something positive to fight this horrible disease.
- In October, Diane is undertaking the Breast Cancer 3-Day–a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. She has committed to raising $2,300 — and whatever she can’t raise in donations she must pay for out of her own pocket! So help her out with this wonderful cause. You can support Diane by donating here. To read more about why Diane is doing this, read this post. You can also follow along on her progress at the blog she set up to document her walk efforts. And you know what, her birthday is this weekend. Bet your donation to the cause (no matter how small) would be all she would want as a gift!
- Jay is shaving his head on March 21st in support of children’s cancer research through an organization called St. Baldricks. You can read about Jay’s quest for “immediate and dramatic hair loss”and make a donation to this fine cause by clicking here.
And guess what, the lovely K at Interstitial Life had the wonderful idea of celebrating her 100th blog post by holding a party! All the “guests” get to do a guest post on her blog. And guess what guest is showing up on Thursday? Yeah … it’s me! If you want to check out my guest post, click on over. All of the posts have been A+ material so far … so I think I may bringing the party down a little bit. But I do love a nice party — even if I’m the type that shows up with a book (or an anti-crafting rant).
I can’t wait till my daughter can fall asleep without me sitting next to her. Congrats on the book blog doing so well. Thats so cool, free books and interviews. That is so awesome.
If you bring a lot of wine to the party, then everyone will tell you how fabulous you are! They might be slurring when they say it, but…
An anti-crafting rant??? I thought you were my friend…LOL
My husband used to feel neglected when I played online solitaire for hours. Then he found a submarine game and he is happy as can be playing it. Now he complains about my blogging. He’s a great writer. I encourage him to be a guest writer, but he hasn’t taken me up on it yet.
Like your blog.
Wonderful list!
So glad that Life is good for you!
Congrats on everything! I need to check out your book blog.
Call of Duty..SWEET. I love that game. Hmm, but it does make me wonder why my wife was so happy that I got it.
Thanks for running by!!
Oh I can imagine how good it feels to not have to stay with the little one to get him to sleep and to get books!
My son is totally hooked on Call of Duty!
And I would go insane without my bloggie friends!
Yo, yo! Hey, have no worries. I’m not a CURRENT Ace of Base fan – that was so 1990s.
Loved this post, and how freakin’ COOL is that about your book blog! Wow – that’s just so awesome!!! And, yay for Little One falling asleep on his own. The whole crying it out thing is too hard for me too. Just can’t do it.
Hey way to go guest blogger!!!
That is huge! I wish that was on my list.. sadly, it’s not. I would be my all time favorite thing though.
Just letting you know you are SO NOT ALONE with your #1…..our 3 1/2 yr old JUST started going to bed on his own about 3 months ago and WE LOVE IT! He would always come in, fall asleep on the us or the couch then we would have to carefully move him……..SUCH A PAIN!! Now, life is good! My first boy did not do this at all but of course this one is Daddy’s boy and well……Daddy spoils him! Here’s to your easier nights and praying you did NOT jinx yourself!!
Jenners,
Congrats on your book blog! I love to read too and one of my friends is an author who has her publisher send me her new books before they hit the shelves and I love it! Need some help? hehehehe
Blessings!
It smelled and felt like Spring here yesterday,I got pretty excited and today it’s snowing
I’m happy that your book blog is taking off. How in the world do you have time to read that often? I wish I did! Good luck (knock on wood) with the nighttime sleep for your little one!
Oh – I feel you with number 1. I hope it holds out.
that is a great list! and that is really cool about your book blog!
Those are some good things going on! Sleeping on his own? Awesome.
And, the book thing rocks. I’ll head over to get a new recommendation. I’ve got a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card and I’m not afraid to use it.
I haven’t visited your book review blog, but I need to head over. now. I’m so jealous of the book reviews being offered you. So jealous! That would be my dream come true, too!
I hope the “going to sleep on his own” thing is still working. Hubby and I are such failures at night time parenting. After more than 6 years, our youngest now spends the whole night in her own bed, but we still sit with her while she falls asleep. You’d think since she’s our 4th kid we would have this all figured out. Thankfully, our other parenting skills are better than our nighttime parenting.
I shall surely join you on the insanity if Spring disappears around here, too. We’ve had 80 degree days in January. And, now … rain and cold and yuck. Such a sad story.
1. Sweet! Always a great feeling to grab an extra moment back from the depths of parenting.
2. Good for you. If I ever write a book I’ll give you a call.
3. My Love sleeps while I blog. LOL @ the random death comments.
4. Spring was here but went down that drain with that groundhog.
5. It is a good fight to fight.
Love your blog. Thanks for visiting mine
My husband is waaaayyyy into war video games, too. I think I saw him shed a tear the other day when our youngest scratched the living daylights out of Call To Duty.
Thankfully, my husband started his own blog not too long ago, which is wonderful on so many levels!
Great list and how awesome is it that you are getting free books to review? I wonder if I review scrapbook supplies someone might start sending me new products to try?
Congratulations on night #2 with your son, and on your book blog! I am so happy spring is just around the corner…I feel like a caged animal with two offspring!
I happy to hear that you are getting more books and an author interview…any hints as to who and when it will appear on the blog???
Be careful or you’ll end up with tbr piles as high as mine because you want the free books to keep flowing.
Congrats on the book blog! And congrats with #1! Right now I don’t which is more of a celebration, since I can relate to both!
We’re still having spring-like weather here.. it’s uplifting everyone’s mood. Then it’s supposed to snow Sat. SUPER
Good list! And I already miss that Spring-like weather… it’s been cooler here the past couple days. I’m ready for sunshine!
Good for you on the book blog! Years ago, before I was pregnant, I used to do book giveaways/reviews. I always wrote the authors and let them know. I scored a lot of signed copies, advanced copies and met my fave authors. It was great. Lots of fun! Too bad I don’t have time or money now. Maybe when the babeola is 4.
M
Now you got me all wondering about Monday’s post! I can’t wait to read it.
And free books? Yes please.
Great post! In fact, it is the Featured Post over at Worth a Thousand Words.
This is a great list – I love the kids can finally get to sleep all on their own!
I’ll have to peek over at your book blog and see what’s up. I have a friend who is a book-aholic and would probably enjoy following in your footsteps.
I haven’t heard of CoD but my hubby plays those online games too and I hear ya! I like it when he’s tied to the computer and I don’t have’ta feel guilty
Great list! I am definitely going to check out your book blog! I love to read when I can find the time! I usually end up sacrificing sleep for a time with a good book!
Congrats on your book blog girl!! I had one like that a few years ago! I loved it!! Have you tried Simon ad Shuester’s advisory board?? look it up! I get free books from them ALL THE TIME! it’s so sweet!
Love your list! I do understand what a big step it is for the little one to fall asleep without you. Believe me – I have two kids, and they still find it difficult to sleep without their mama!
My sister shaved her head last year in order to help people with cancer. Such a brave move!
Ooooohhhh….who are you interviewing? That’s so cool! Wait, do you think he’s going to talk about bougar ice cream with worm sprinkles like your other interview. Because that would be even COOLER!
These are awesome! We just achieved #1 with our daughter recently, and I KNOW how huge this is
Ok this was almost spooky in the similarities to me! Numbers 1-4 could have been written by me! Except of course my son started sleeping without my help more than 20 years ago! But I so recall the freedom of not needing to SNEAK out of his room as he finaly slept! Hope yours sticks!
Congrats on a lot!! I sure do know how huge it is to have your child go to sleep on his own.
That is so totally awesome about your book review blog! Congrats
I remember the sleep thing… we never had a problem ’til about 3 1/2… and it lasted over a year. Ugh. So I feel ya!
And thanks so much for the shout out (and the donation!!!). I appreciate both more than you know!!!
That’s fantastic news about the little one! And I totally get the whole “Call of Duty 4″ thing… I can’t even keep up anymore with what the mister’s playing.
I am going to have to check out your book blog. I love to read! I have written a few book reviews on my blog, though I am not a very accomplished book reviewer!
Congrats on the book blog taking off. Free books are a dream for many of us. Given that I have several thousand books in my personal library, the $$ can add up.
Isn’t it neat when kids can get to sleep on their own. That ranks right up there with the day one finally no longer has to carry a diaper bag everywhere.