Last weekend, DH asked me out on an "in-home" date...

Ah yes, the "in home" date--
Just one step above the middle school
standard "group date".

Here is NOT how it went:
It did NOT begin with me allowing DH to select the movie. I would never be that stupid lazy as to allow him to make the choice. That said, we did NOT end up watching "Stepbrothers" with Will Ferrell (the only actor outside of Steve Carrell my DH will watch).


Our evening did NOT get even more exciting with a bottle of this:


Yeah, for those of you who can't tell, that is NOT Two Buck Chuck. That would NOT be the proper brand of alcohol to use on your unsuspecting wife in what turned out to be a very feeble attempt at seduction.

Lord, NO.

Before this night, I had NOT always enjoyed a nice, cheap bottle of chardonnay... until now. Henceforth, DH & I are referring to cheap wine as chardon-NOT. As in, do NOT drink this if you want to feel anywhere close to healthy in the morning. Do NOT drink this if you don't want to feel as though you've just poured pure gasoline down your throat. Do NOT drink this if you plan on wooing your wife.

Why is it that men have such different ideas about what constitutes romance? While a bottle of Chuck and a Will Ferrell flick might be a strong attempt at BRO-mance, it does NOT work on women!

Needless to say,
I will be planning our
next date night.

Round One of my first "Just For You February" giveaways is in the books!

Let's get right to it, the winner of the Clouds & Stars Crib Sheet Set is entry #31 (out of 60!)...

Mama Hunt @ ME-Mommy, Etc.
Congrats! You have 48 hours to email me with your contact information. Once you do, I'll put you in direct contact with a company representative, who will help you select colors for your baby's new sheets!

Moving on to this week's giveaway...

The amazing folks at Jurlique are going to give one of my readers a set of bath products sure to pamper your baby. Included in this giveaway are three products; Calming Massage Oil, Calming Bath Oil, and Soothing Barrier Cream. Total value? $72!

Here's How To Enter:
-Leave a comment on this post
-Follow my blog (new and old followers!)
-Follow Julia's blog (she's got a great giveaway going on right now, too!)
-Follow me on Twitter: @IAmConfessing
-Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment with the link
-Grab one of my blog buttons (I've remade my "main" button!) to add to your home page
-Add my blog to the list of blogs you display on your home page
You must leave a separate comment for each entry, or it will not count!
This giveaway-- and all the giveaways throughout February (unless otherwise noted)-- will run for exactly one week; so that means this contest ends Saturday, February 13th at 11:59pm.

I'll announce the winner next Sunday, when the NEW giveaway posts!

GOOD LUCK!

I was not compensated in any way for this giveaway, other than the donation of the above products to the winner. The winner of this giveaway will be selected using a random number generator. U.S. residents only.

Hail, hail, our

"Queen For The Week"!

is here!

This week's queen is...

Patti @ Emersyn Grace: Our Biggest Little Blessing!


Patti, like me, has a gorgeous little girl! But mothers with little boys out there, back off: Emersyn is spoken for already. Geez, I didn't realize the competition for a spouse began this young! And although Patti claims this post is about a stolen binky, I think the attractive older man in these pictures played a role too. But Patti is more than just a mom-- she's also an incredible person who has gone on an amazing personal journey of growth. Here's a little about her, in her own words:

I am a 29 year old wife of Brett, mama of Emersyn Grace and lover of life!! I have been blogging for many years but my blog took on a whole new meaning after becoming a mother. My daughter is the light of my life and I thank God for her every single night when I go check on her before going to sleep. I am fiesty, eternally optimistic, and believe that attitude is everything. My life isn't perfect but I am content and believe that my faith is the source of my joy in life, oh and my sweet family too!

I am currently in the process of losing 100 pounds which is a little daunting but it's totally happening!! I work part time but long to stay home full time with my daughter and any future siblings that she might have. I am hoping to transition to a SAHM this year; we'll see. In the meantime, I work part time for an insurance company, work part time in real estate and am very involved in ministry at my church. I enjoy a good book, date nights with my husband, finding good deals on clothes and Gymboree and pretty much anything that has to do with my daughter! Thanks Elizabeth for crowning me this week!!!"

So go, go NOW to Patti's blog and tell her I sent you!
This is our SIXTH Queen For The Week-- meaning we are just two weeks away from the random drawing for our first $20 Starbucks gift card. Woo hoo!

Ladies, I am currently putting the nomination process on hold. Ya'll have flooded me with enough nominations to last until MID-JUNE! I feel so bad telling nominees about the extra-long wait, so I am going to ask you to halt the nominations-- for now-- and I will start it back up in the spring once the wait isn't as long!

<a href="http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com/" title="Confessions from a Working Mom"><img src="http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn287/lifeafterbc/Elizabeth/Crowned.jpg" alt="Confessions from a Working Mom" /></a>

It's a giveaway... it's a coronation... it's recognition for your blog-diggity-awesomeness. Click here to read how it all began.

Because The (Un)Experienced Mom is at Blissdom today and not doing "Fill In The Blank Friday"...

And because I completely dropped the ball on my Friday Fragments...

I am doing...

THREE NEW BLOG CARNIVALS

...this week.

That's right... Three new meme's (and still no one has told me what "meme" means; c'mon ladies, help a girl out!) to enjoy!

I'm gonna start with The Girl Next Door Grows Up's


One of her ways to "feel good" is to write about five things that made you happy this week. I've had a tough week-- so this is my effort to find the silver lining.

#1) G got a new toy to help her sleep. I was skeptical about it at first, because I actually thought it would be a distraction. Instead, it's proven to be an absolutely winner!

#2) DH made one of my favorite meals for dinner... "Grown-Up Mac & Cheese". It's delicious! I've been able to eat it for leftovers a few days too, and it is the perfect comfort food.

#3) We finally made reservations for Valentine's Day (and got a sitter, woo hoo!). And even though we waited until 10 days before V-day (despite my "Tip Of The Day" from JANUARY!) to call our favorite restaurant, we still got in at a decent hour. No eating at Hardee's at 10pm for us this year!

#4) Snowstorm-pending (yes, we are expecting ANOTHER storm this weekend in the South), G and all her friends (and their moms, who happen to be my friends) start a session of swim lessons on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to spending time with my girls!

#5) Have you heard about the Super Bowl??? I heard the Colts are playing... And that makes me very happy. Ask me how I feel about this after the game on Sunday, though!

***************************************
Now, on to my next new meme...


by "Foursons"!

Like I said before, it's been a tough week, and I've had a lot of fodder for this letter. But after much debate, I've decided to write it to...

Dear Mr. Middle-Aged Asian Man In Your Tricked Out Ford Focus...

I understand your passion for American-made automobiles. My grandfather once worked at Saturn (which is now defunct, but I digress), and although I drive foreign-made vehicles, I appreciate the impact your purchase has made on the U.S. economy during the recession.

That said, I must admit that I find your decision to "pimp out" your Focus rather... odd. I'm used to seeing tricked out Corrolas, Civics, and the occasional Subaru, but rarely something as gas-mileage friendly as your ride. I wonder, what was the inspiration for the back window decal which proclaims you "The King"? Was it your idea to put 20-inch rims on tires that are only 21-inches big? And just who came up with the jaw-dropping phrase for your vanity plate, "Ciao Y'll"?

I don't mean to critique your style or your choices. In fact, I wouldn't have even noticed them in the first place... If you hadn't cut me off on an ice-covered street only to drive at a snail's pace, completely frustrating this tried-and-true, Midwest-bred, Upstate-New-York-educated driver.

Thanks Again...
Elizabeth

***************************************
And to wrap it all up with a nice neat bow, my friend Mama Michie's


Exhibit A: G In The Snow, January '09


Exhibit B: G In The Snow, January '10


With another snow storm on its way in tonight,
I don't think I'll be taking my little "ice princess" out in the snow tomorrow!

Do you hear that?

It's the world's smallest violin,
playing a somber little tune because
I am not at Blissom.
I was going to throw myself a little pity party because-- on the same day that some of my favorite bloggers (like The (Un)Experienced Mom!) are arriving at one of the country's biggest blogging conferences-- I am stuck here... at work... looking at four full week's of the February ratings period (aka: sweeps).

Turns out, I don't need to throw myself a pity party... because Amanda over at Serenity Now is doing it for me:


Amanda's all about promoting other bloggers, something I find totally admirable. And, since I'm not able to be at Blissdom promoting myself, I'm going to use this little corner of the web to do that instead.

So, without further ado, I present...

5 Reasons Why My Blog Rocks!

#1) I love to give things away. Whoever coined the phrase, "'Tis better to give than to receive" definitely nailed it on the head. Right now, I'm giving away this cool Clouds & Stars crib bedding set which will totally cut down on your nighttime diaper blowout frustrations. And on Sunday, I've got even more cool stuff to give ya... Don't want to give away any secrets, but it's going to turn your baby's bathtime into "spa"-time...

#2) I tell it like it is... and sometimes, that means telling YOU things I haven't even told my dearest friends (well, they figure it out once I lay it all out there online, I guess!). I strive to keep my blog an open and honest place, where there's no room for bull. Speaking of girls who don't have any time for bull, you've got to check out my friend Shell's blog, Things I Can't Say. She takes brutal honesty to a whole new level!

#3) My entire layout-- from my header to my background to my buttons-- is self-made. I really debated going to a custom layout over the holidays, and nearly asked for a blog makeover as my Christmas gift. But I just couldn't pull the trigger. And I like to help my fellow bloggers whenever I can with their graphic needs. In fact, I've made blog buttons for my friend's Heather and Jennifer! What can I say, it makes me feel crafty.

#4) I love to meet, interact with, and feature other bloggers. I only got started blogging about six months ago, but I find it's a great way not only to express my thoughts, but to meet like-minded (and sometimes, not-so-like-minded) women (and men!) as well. I have my weekly "Queen For A Week" feature, where readers nominate themselves to have their blog button displayed on my page for a week. And every eight weeks, I will select one randomly to win a $20 Starbucks giftcard. You can email me if you would like to nominate yourself (or another blogger!), but be warned; I've already had enough nominations to back me up til JUNE! I'm going to get to everyone though, and that's my God's honest promise!

#5) I am really working to foster a community on my blog, and I realize it's a two-way street. I read-- nay, cherish-- each and every comment I receive. So many times, what you write touches me, so I head to your blog and comment back. I also like to click on the bloggers that show up in my "Blog Frog" widget. I'd love to hear your ideas on how to develop our community even more; whether that's here, via email, or on twitter.

So, I may not be at Blissdom this week... but I am in a state of bliss, just knowing I'm part of a group of amazing women (and a few men, too!) like all of you.

Oh Tila...

You have deleted your Twitter account.

How will I find out who is your baby's real daddy?

How will I get the latest updates on your run-ins with NFL star Shawn Merriman?

How will I find out if you ever mend your party-girl ways?

Actually, I'll probably just
head over to Perez.

This week, Tila (Ms. Tequila, if you're nasty) became the latest "celebrity" (I use that term lightly, because she is far from a real "star") to end her relationship with the microblogging website. She follow the likes of Miley Cyrus (who quit tweeting in October) and Chris Brown (who cut off his Twitter account in December).

I'll be the first to admit that I was a little (ok, more than just a little) behind the times when it came to Twitter. In fact, my boss had an account months before I signed up. That's why I find it so disappointing that now-- just as I'm getting used to the 140 character concept-- all the celebrities are leaving (please note: I'm partially kidding about that last part).

But Tila, Miley, and Chris aren't the only ones...

In researching this post, I found some pretty interesting facts: 1.) 10% of Twitter users account for 90% of the activity on the site, and 2.) 60% of Twitter users quit within their first month on the site. And many of those "Twitter quitters" turn out to be "one twit wonders"... literally leaving a single message, then never tweeting again.

Here (courtesy of Slate.com) are some of them...

@Ben_Pursell: "I don't get it... what's the point of this thing?"

Obviously, Ben didn't get the point;
he never followed up that initial Tweet.

@Treyharness: "This technology is awesome. If you haven't signed up already, do it now so we can all stay connected. It's much easier than email or phone."

Really? You liked the technology?
I guess not enough to return!

@Phillyrules: "It hurts to breathe. Should I go to the hospital?"

This one worries me a bit...
I hope she got medical attention!

So all these folks have literally hit Twitter... and run for greener pastures elsewhere. Then you factor in Tila, Miley, Chris Brown, Ricky Jervais, Lily Allen... it seems like everybody is leaving Twitter.

Well, at least not everybody is quitting Twitter:

"President Obama and the First Lady are here visiting our disaster operation center right now."
Yup, that's President Obama sending his first Tweet via @RedCross just a few weeks ago in the wake of the Haiti earthquake. It was the President's first tweet, just a few months after he publicly admitted, "My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone,"-- and said he'd never sent a single tweet.

Now, I've already made it past the crucial one-month quitting deadline... and I've sent more tweets than the leader of the free world... and I want to follow you, too! So...

If you are on Twitter, leave me a comment with your username--
And I will add you to my follow list TODAY!

Have you ever felt like seen, read, or heard something before?

Have you ever felt like seen, read, or heard something before?

Deja vu, anyone?
I know for me, I have scenes from my life that I replay over... and over... and over... wishing I'd said or done something differently.

So, today-- on Groundhog's Day-- I'm channeling Bill Murray's classic 1993 comedy, and asking you:

If you could "do-over" any one scene in your life... what would it be, and why?

<a href="http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com/"
target="_blank" title="Confessions from a Working Mom">
<img src="http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn287/lifeafterbc/Elizabeth/TruthfulTuesdaysButton-1.jpg"
alt="Confessions from a Working Mom" /></a>

If you are a new visitor to my site, welcome! There are several ways to play along. Feel free to leave a comment with your answer, or you can post about this topic on your own blog, grab my button, even add your website to the MckLinky below!

In case you somehow missed "Groundhog's Day" (the movie, not Punxsutawney Phil's appearance this morning in Pennsylvania), here's a synopsis in one run-on sentence:

Bill Murray's character is a TV weatherman who hates covering good ole "Phil" every February 2nd, so he "mails it in", so to speak; that is, until he is forced to relive Groundhog's Day over and over until he finally gets it right.
I've been mulling over this question-- and my answer-- for a long time now. I've had times when I unequivocably knew what I would write, only to rethink it and change my mind. Here's what I've come up with:

I could say that I don't regret anything, that the mistakes I made in my past have made me the person I am today. But while that's undeniably true, I think it's a bit of a cop out. How can any person not have a single regret? I really don't think that's possible.

So here's my story...

I have always been known for having a bit of a loud mouth bad temper... uh, being rather strong-willed at work. Most of the time, my coworkers just roll their eyes and laugh, and say, "That's Elizabeth." That is, until the day my mouth got a little too loud... and my boss heard me call him stupid... in front of the entire newsroom.

First, let me clarify. I did not call my boss stupid. I called his ideas stupid. I maintain there is a difference. DH says it's just semantics, and that if he told me I was acting like a b!tch, I would take it the same as if he'd actually called me by that name.

Point taken.

On that particular day, my boss wanted to lead my newscast with a story that had absolutely no local relevance to my viewers. It fell into the category of "If it bleeds, it leads,", which I wholeheartedly object to. I stated my opinion, um, rather loudly... and he heard me.

He didn't call me into his office.

He didn't yell back at me.

He simply shook his head, walked into his office, and closed his door.

I was in big trouble.

I spent the rest of the day-- and that night-- in fear. My boss had sent me an email that he didn't want to see or hear from me for the rest of that work day, and that he'd see me in the morning for a meeting.

I thought for sure I was about to be fired.

I walked into my boss's office with my hands clammy, my heart pounding, and my mind running; how would I talk my way out of the trouble my mouth had already gotten me into?

I honestly don't remember exactly what I said, other than I laid one big "Mea Culpa" at his feet and begged his forgiveness. He acknowledged my talent, my comraderie with my coworkers, and my ratings success; and vowed that if such an outburst ever happend again, I would be looking for a new job.

If I had to do that day over-- the day that probably sealed my fate at my job, guaranteeing I would never be promoted to management-- I would. What would I change?

This:

I would have made sure to look in both directions-- and behind me-- before talking badly about my boss!

If you could "do-over" any one scene in your life... what would it be, and why?