Category Archives: MomStarMissions

We’re going to Walk, Run and Hope for @fortheloveofliz

Posted on September 15, 2010 | 3 Comments

This September she would have turned 33.

This September the daughter she gave birth to 7 weeks early will be 2

This September her husband will miss her just as much as he did the day she left this world

This September her husband along with many others who loved her, will celebrate and honor her memory by helping other families suddenly widowed.

Last year’s events raised over $40,000 for the Liz Logelin Foundation helping families across the country who have recently lost a spouse, partner, moms and dads.

This year, the PIT, auntie Tay and I will be participating in the Walk, Run, Hope 5k on September 18th in Minneapolis. The three of us are joining forces to raise money for the Liz Logelin Foundation AND we’re taking on the 5k (I’ll walk…Tay can run).  Registration is $25 per adult and $20 for the PIT but we’re looking for sponsors to help us raise more than just registration fees.  We aim to raise big!  If you’d like to help our little team (name pending) there are a few ways to do so…

Here…

We're helping raise money for the Liz Logelin Foundation

you can also contact me via email at singlemama.cc at gmaildotcom

Join us for the 2010 events in Minneapolis……

Or simply donate directly to the Liz Logelin Foundation —–

You can catch up on Matt, Liz and Madeline’s story as told by Matt himself on his blog (which he has been slack at BUT it’s allowed since he is writing a book due out rather soon…I for one cannot wait.)

Matt’s story has inspired many people…including yours truly (mhmm..blame matt & his damn robot)



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Posted in Mission: Rock the Cause, MomStarMissions

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I’d like you to meet a very special little fighter~Gracelyn

Posted on July 20, 2010 | 9 Comments

Blogger and #MomStar, Mandi Welbaum, from Mandi Minding Money has been hard at work campaigning for a very small, very beautiful little baby.

Gracelyn Michelle, who was born on May 31st, 2010, was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome on June 14th, 2010. HLHS is condition in which the whole left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. Gracelyn’s family has already gone through two surgeries, and as of July 20th, 2010 is being scheduled for the very serious open-heart surgery. This surgery will require the surgeons to cut through her chest bone to gain access, where they will then place bands around the right and left pulmonary arteries to control blood flow, thereby balancing circulation.

After the first two surgeries were completed in June, Gracelyn was sent home to start gaining weight. On July 6th, at a routine weekly check-up, Gracelyn’s parents learned that little Gracie bug had lost instead of gained weight. Weight gain is necessary for her recovery, and to schedule the upcoming surgeries that are required. On July 14th, Gracelyn had finally gained, but not enough. Doctors have talked with her parents and they will be returning to the hospital on July 21st to be admitted, and to prepare for the open-heart surgery to happen within just days.

Mandi Welbaum has organized a fun and interactive fundraiser on her blog, Mandi Minding Money. She is collecting donations, and if she can reach $500 by October 1st, 2010, she will be DYEING HER HAIR!

That’s right! She even has a vote going on to let visitors decide the color of choice. You can choose from purple, pink, green, or blue. When the money is raised, Mandi will be providing video and pictures of her new color, and presenting the money to Gracelyn’s family to use towards her care and mounting medical bills.

I hope that you will visit Mandi’s blog to read the updates about Gracelyn, and I hope that you will donate. Even if you can only chip in a dollar, every dollar will help! Make sure to stop by Mandi’s blog to vote, donate and keep up on Gracelyn’s progress

So let’s get to $500 and get Mandi to dye her hair! Don’t forget to vote!

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Posted in Mission: Rock the Cause, MomStarMissions

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The view through her eyes~

Posted on July 11, 2010 | 6 Comments

This morning while we were out for a walk, I gave carlos (the camera) to the PIT and told her to give it a whirl.

She loves to take pictures and she’s actually rather good at operating the complex beast that is carlos.

She carefully put the camera around her neck and trotted off to her favorite spot…the bridge

Then she and Carlos headed down the path to check out the flowers

Not only did she manage to capture some great shots…..

Looking over her pictures I realized something…

How amazing the view is through her eyes...

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Posted in and then theres this kinda shit, Being a mom rocks even when being a single mom blows, MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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Week 5 took us to South Dakota

Posted on June 16, 2010 | 5 Comments

Week 5 took us to South Dakota…..land of….open plains?

Bison?

rawr

Lots and lots of fields.

Oh and the Black Hills are out there (they’re pretty cool btw) but the PIT and I didn’t head that far west.

We were near Sioux Falls, SD which is a decent city…not to big, not to small townish and lots of history.

The PIT & I walked the city’s streets taking in the sites and sounds of a historic city mixed with Automania….it was awesome!

The streets of downtown Sioux Falls were packed with people and classic cars….live band playing a few blocks down on the main stage…

hello gorgeous



Damn, this mama is ROCKIN the ink

We met up with my little brother (the PIT adores her Uncie) and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap this pic….

Double trouble

it melts my heart to see my brother and my daughter together….they’re both trouble ftr but I love em both!

Uncie even made certain the PIT got to see “Doc Hudson” from the movie “Cars”!

Apparently people didn't notice I was trying to take a picture. MOVE your asses damnit!

They finally made their way through the crowd

Way to not look at the camera Uncie

Not far from the busy, chaotic streets of downtown Sioux Falls is the gorgeous Falls Park.  We ventured up the road to check it out and found a few cool stops along the way.

2 party animals up on the roof

Sidewalk sculptures!

More sidewalk sculptures

Why yes that is a horse drawn carriage on the city street...South Dakota

Trottin along

Finally, we had made it to Falls Park….the PIT was frickin giddy! She LOVES this park…..

as soon as she heard the water falls she bolted squealing "weeeeee" the entire way

it is a gorgeous park...

the sound of the water pouring over the rocks is almost narcotic

the rapids almost hypnotic

add these over-dramatic, yet gorgeous eyes into the mix and it's pure bliss

She’s happy…really….she’s THAT good at making those puppy dog eyes at any given moment. It’s annoying

And then she says “I bet you won’t come out on these rocks mama…I bet you’re afraid”

The smirk on her face as she so clearly provokes me makes me giddy…the girls got a playful spunk!

“Pssssh. Bet I’m not” I replied as any normal 30 year old would

Ah the things I do for this kid....

“Take THAT” I said but she didn’t even hear me because she was to busy laughing her little ass off…apparently she found my rock hopping amusing.

I was just relieved I made it off the gawddamn rocks without breaking anything….I’m not the most graceful creature…ever.

Having proven myself ‘not afraid’ we were ready to hit the trail….and oh what a view….

.......

MomStar Mission at Falls Park……HUGE success! Neither one of us will forget this Friday night for quite some time….

Mission, accomplished.

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Posted in MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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Sunshine, swings and smiles (updated)

Posted on June 6, 2010 | 12 Comments

Week 4…..

This week’s MomStar Mission took us to the park….and I got on a tire swing for the first time in….well…..feels like it’s been a lifetime ago!

Click on the pic and take a look the video~

Alright so let’s update this.

Slacker.

Tried to post an awesome video instead of telling you about our week of MomStar Missions and random acts of adventure.

My apologies….I suck. And not in the way @grandpabasement tells people either…he’s a fibber.


As I mentioned before, one of our MomStar Missions was mani & pedi’s for the PIT & I.

Lemme tell ya….someone LOVES this mission. She’s already asking when we can go back!

She needs to calm down…….bwahahahhahaha…the PIT, calm down?! Yeah right! If she did I’d have to take her to the doctor.

Thursday night I took the PIT to her new favorite place….Daisy Nails.

She ooo’ed and awww’ed at the wall full of colors to choose from.

She’s the type of person who, like her mother, should have less options to choose from because having THAT many choices is overwhelming and it can become rather time consuming just trying to pick ONE color. So, she picked two. And once I convinced her that the woman was NOT going to paint every other nail in alternate shades but that she could paint her toes one color and her fingernails the other, we proceeded.

(the woman was actually very nice and said she wouldn’t mind painting her tiny toes in alternate colors but that wasn’t the point. Mama said ‘no’. Although I do greatly appreciate the kindness of people, a mom has to teach her lil one to respect…I *try* to maintain my momground although….I’m guilty of caving to the pressure of those big brown eyes. Now I just don’t look at her;) Wait, where was I going with this? Damnit.)

Oh yes….we proceeded!

The PIT giggled when the chair started to shake beneath her….a relaxing massage for most was a friggin gigglefest for the PIT!

The entire salon echoed with her laughter when she got her little feet scrubbed…on the bottoms…..where she’s most ticklish!

If I could bottle that sound and save it for all eternity just to brighten any given moment, I would.

The PIT’s nails turned out gorgeous and she was a bit beyond excited to rock her last day of second grade with pretty nails. Feels damn good to put sparkle in her eyes

#fuckyesImaMomStar

Really a GREAT color...good eye girlie

She about stuck her foot right in your eye trying to MAKE SURE you see the daisy….

oooooo pretty (Oh and mine look tits as well!)

Gorgeousness! I even treated myself to a manicure and then proceeded to burn myself while my nails were DRYING….mhmm, Im THAT graceful. What did I burn myself on? Well…..

Even the 8 yr old managed to dry her nails without injury

See the thingy where her hands are….there are light bulbs up in there….and they’re hotter than Hades! Motherfuck that burn hurt all weekend reminding me what a klutz I can be….now it just looks gross….

Super classy, I know. Not everyone can manage to injury themselves at a nail salon…..add this to the never ending list of ridiculous shit I’ve done….


The PIT finished the 2nd grade with outstanding reports on Friday.

Saturday she took offense when I called her a second grader.

excuuuuse me. One day out and she’s already lippy!

(I have NO idea where she gets that)

Sunday was MomStar Adventure day and our goal was French Park.

As I’m sure you might have noticed from the video (that I cannot get to post right so all I have is this lil linkydink)…we had a fanfuckingtastic day!!

This week’s MomStar Adventure involves a trip to Nanas!


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Posted in Being a mom rocks even when being a single mom blows, MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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Mark this day down as one of the best fucking days ever

Posted on May 31, 2010 | 7 Comments

Week 3 begins with one of the greatest days ever.

Random act of gorgeousness...always brightens my day

The PIT and I spent the entire day poolside with our friends (and a few new obnoxious neighbors who need to be bitchslapped) soaking up the sun, swimming and grilling.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, a perfect blue sky cloudless most of the morning…a few clouds rolled across the afternoon, thickening as the day came to a close….but even with the clouds, we couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Memorial Day…the start of summer….pools open, PIT’s happy, I’m fried….

let's hope sunburn isn't grounds for dismissal when you work for a dermatologist

yup-summer~

It’s also the start of week three as an adventure apprentice….

This week is the PIT’s last week as a second grader….I think that calls for a celebration…involving ice cream cake. She has also been patiently waiting for a certain ‘momstar mission’…mani & pedi’s.  I think I will tackle that mission this week and take my girl to the salon for a little pampering.

If this wonderful weather holds out Im sure we’ll be at the pool almost daily.  The PIT really loves to swim….she taught herself to by the way. She also taught herself to ride a bike…come to think of it….Im not sure I’ve taught her anything useful..that’s a whole post of it’s own…

Speaking if posts….I need to get my ass in gear and post some constructive shit.  (as opposed to causing a ruckus over at singlemommyhood

…which I’m not going to apologize for and the ‘hood would never expect me to. They dig me for me.  I will however, stop ‘kat’ fighting over there…It’s a negative vibe that the ‘hood can do without.  I don’t like to poop on my friends blogs, I *try* to keep my shit talking on my own domain…but that’s an entirely different post.)

Holy balls…Need too?! How bout Will do.

I will post something constructive and the #SMR post I missed this week (not my fault @peasandbananas. holiday weekend effed up my routine)

Oh and ps—RockstarMomma30 and the Mr are expecting baby number 2!! Yay! Congrats mama!!

One more thing…I think I need to address what appears to be all-star confusion?

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Posted in Being a mom rocks even when being a single mom blows, MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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Adventures of a MomStar week two

Posted on May 30, 2010 | 3 Comments

It’s Sunday?! Where the hell did week two go?!? Guess I got all wrapped up in my MomStar missions, chasing adventures and laughing that I lost track of time.

Did I get to all the things on this week’s list? No….only because I got side tracked with spontaneous and random acts of summer fun.

While I did accomplish of few of the challenges on my list

IE: Carlos was with me at all times and did come in handy quite often, I drank milk and ate like a normal person again, and I did make sure to remind the PIT how much I love her.  I had plenty of opportunities to tell her how proud I am to be her mom…

this week she graduated from her first year in track & field earning herself a Certificate of Excellence and ice cream (which she declared that she loved and that she would marry it, eat it and divorce it if she could.)

On Wednesday she rocked the shit out of the school talent show.  She was in the grand finale’ (of course-making it IMPOSSIBLE for me to sneak out early)

She stood proudly in the front row along with her classmates as they danced together on the dance routine you could tell, they had all worked very hard on.

The PIT loves to dance….and I love standing in the back, smiling with pride, snapping pics of my little dancing queen. And nothing feels like better that seeing your child totally giddy with her besties!

In addition to the big things at school….things got HUGE at home.

Yup. The pool opened early and all was right in the PIT’s world.  She’s only been counting down the days to the pool’s opening since October…..she was beyond friggin giddy and into her bathing suit in about 15 seconds flat.  With that, I skipped learning Yoga and put a hold on game night and I took the PIT to the pool where she swam till dark….

giving Tay and I the opportunity to hang out by the pool and soak up the sun….and wine

Friday was track & field day at teh PIT’s school and I had a lunch date with my favorite track stars

We had a picnic lunch on the front lawn at the school where the PIT’s teacher also joined us. The girls felt super cool eating lunch with their teacher AND the mom that all the kids stare at wondering if those were real tattoo’s or if I had just drawn on my arm with a pen.

(One kid made me spit wash my arm to prove I hadn’t just doodled on myself. Yes, I took the dare of an 8 year old and I won so he had to prove he could do the splits. He can. OW!)

After I proved myself to a herd of 8 year olds I was allowed on the playground.  The sun was bright in the perfect blue sky…kids were giggling….the sound of jump ropes hitting the pavement….it was almost narcotic.  I could not have asked for a better moment, memory to share with my daughter.

The girls dared me to jump rope with them so of course I did….I couldn’t let the children down for fucks sake.  I managed to jump rope with the girls and none of us were hurt in the process which is HUGE for the PIT & I who are incredibly graceful creatures.

Week two may not have stuck to the list entirely but considering the time was very well spent….I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Plus, thanks to my slacking I have most of week 3′s list ready to go!






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Posted in Being a mom rocks even when being a single mom blows, MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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Week Two’s to do (clever title I know. Im very very tired)

Posted on May 24, 2010 | 6 Comments

Week Two of chasing dreams, acknowledging passion and seeking out MomStar Adventures

This week’s small steps~

*Try Yoga (yes this carried over from last week so what)

*Keep Carlos with me at all times and snap as many random pics as I can….seek out the sights in pursuit of a perfect shot


*Skip smoke breaks (Im not ready to quit but it certainly won’t hurt to cut down)

*Clean the PIT’s room (someone call FEMA)

*Finish off another jug of milk like a champ (yay me)

*#assslap the shit out of my girlys so they won’t forget how fucking fabulous they are

*Game night with the PIT (we may have to lock bastardcat in the bathroom so we can play but Im down for that)

*Get the oil changed (apparently those ‘suggestion’ lights are not suggestions after all. Yes. My father is a mechanic. If he knew how long its been….he’d beat my ass…and Id deserve it!)

*Write….my ‘must post’ posts this week…#TMI Tuesday (even @sassysinglemama is getting in on this….you should too) and #SMR (I love #SMR)

*Tell the PIT I love her for no reason and that she makes me so proud everyday just because I can

*Research ‘Ralph’ (secret MomStar project. Cant disclose any details at this time.)


This weeks adventures include:

*me being a MomStar at the PIT’s school for track & field day

*a wedding dance for classmates I havent seen since graduation day…(bring on the booze!!)

*a trip to see auntie april! (Oh how I miss my bestie & lil man…cant wait to see you guys!)


(I *might* behave. We shall see…depends if @taytayllamalady joins us for the road trip….she is a bad influence on me)




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Posted in BastardCat, Mission: Change the Mindset, MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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Week One: Passion, Art and the Adventures of a MomStar

Posted on May 23, 2010 | 11 Comments

Over the last year I’ve mentioned Morgan more than once and for good reason. She’s a-fuckin-mazing.  Not only that, she has a gift for sparking the flame of passion.

No, seriously-she’s THAT good.  She has single handedly inspired me to ignite MY passion…..in order to do that, I need to focus on me, my passions, my likes, my dreams.  I realized quickly when I was unable to write a personal manifesto that didn’t suck ass, that I had work to do and it was LONG over due.

Recently the flu honestly tried to kill me. I had a hell of a time defending myself.  Why?  My nemesis, depression and anxiety had been been allowed to manifest inside me and slowly weaken me with doubt, worry and fears.  I had to face it…I wasn’t well…mind, body or soul.

I faced it and as I did I could hear Morgan’s words replaying in my mind, calming my nerves..challenging me to use the wings I’ve had all along…to trust myself…and just be~

I spent hours over at Bluegrass Romance.…created by none other that Morgan of course.  Reading and re-reading the weekly mini-missions, how the Bluegrass Romance came to be and why it’s so damn intriguing…I read posts from her previous blog, ModernSingleMomma, where I first met Morgan….words filled with honest and raw passion and love of life…words that were as much of a force as they were when I first read them over a year ago.

I’ve spent the last year blogging mostly about my past… After a lot of thought, meditation and reflection I’ve decided to take a lesson from Morgan…challenge myself to chase my passion and seek out adventure.  Small steps, goals, deadlines…personal challenges…in small not so scary doses.

It started like this…

This weeks small steps:

*Drink at least one glass of milk a day (besides being prego-I havent drank milk since I moved out of my mothers house. That shits nasty but allegedly good for me so whatever, I’ll drink it)

Done.  Shit I finished off the entire jug of milk this week. That is something I can honestly say, I’ve never done—until now~

*Clean out my disgusting car (Its gross)

The Civic is clean….there is a floor and floor mats after all!

*Tell the PIT Im proud of her at least 14 times a day (14 just seems like a nice number)

Check….this one was a breeze…kids friggin amazing

*Get hair did

Um-FuckYesImAMomStar


*Try this ‘yoga’ thing

Not yet…this one carries over into week two

*Eat. All three meals everyday.

Check! I actually ate very well this week and intend to keep it up….I am feeling MUCH better and I’m fully aware that it’s up to me to continue improving my less than healthy habits. Im gonna kick each and every one of those lil bad habit bitches right in the throat

*Update my dossier ….deadline: Friday

DONE:)

*STAY positive at work….mostly by distracting myself with twitter (survival skills…get off my back)

I’d say I was successful in this one 4 out of 5 days….HUGE for me…it’s no secret I’m less than amused with my current place of employment

*Try to stay on track when blogging (heh)

So far so good…..

*Remind the PIT I love her at any given moment for no reason other than its the truth

I didn’t miss a single opportunity to tell the PIT how much I love her or how proud I am to be her mama

*Protect self from @thebastardcat who is clearly the devil in fur

I only suffered one bite and so did he….and then he went on to knock a bunch of knick knacks off the shelves and damn near killed my mouse AND my plant, Gay tom selleck….this mission carries on as well!

*******************************************************************************************************************************

It’s Sunday….end of week one.  I must say, I feel pretty fucking good!

In addition to the small steps I listed earlier in the week, I made a point to seek out an adventure/momstarmission.

Today was a complete and total fucking success.

After a #SMR at Fat Nat’s the PIT and I went out in search of a park with “not baby’ toys. It was a hot, sticky gloomy day with a few brief moments of sunshine…it didn’t matter….the PIT was beaming brighter than the sun could even want to.  Our random road trip (yes, I got lost. again.) lead us to Wayzata and a rather stunning Art Fair.

We strolled along Main Street…along the lake shore…stopping at the booths to check out the art.

We even stopped so the PIT could participate in the fun.

She painted “Ralph”

while I sat on a bench near by,



taking in the sights and sounds of a busy city street against the tranquil sounds of the lake….



nature, city, the PIT’s laughter….

THIS is what I’m after-moments like this.

I’m going to continue with these weekly adventures and ‘small step’ lists and strive to challenge myself continuously.

Teaching myself and the PIT just how important passion is…

this week’s passion/lesson was……a mothers love….

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Posted in Journey to find....me, Mission: Change the Mindset, MomStarMissions, PIT=Princess or Punk in training-depends on her mood

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