I get awards periodically, and I’m never quite sure what to do with them….you all already suffer through hearing enough bizarre things about me as it is without having to hear seven more of my neuroses…so instead of the list of seven things about me, here are my ‘awards’ for women that really stand out in my blogosphere.

I’m scared of infertility. A lot of blogs are about infertility and the struggles of the couples up against it…I’m learning a lot about IVF and PCOS and other acronyms for more fertility issues than I ever thought possible…and I’m continually amazed by the strength of the women who go through it. The Award for Being Strong in the Face of Infertility is Ashley, of For the Love of Shoes and a Baby Too… She is so Strong! Taking everything in stride, and even with the pain and disappointments, she keeps it in perspective, and she’s going forward. Reading her blog, and trying to be supportive (as much as I know how), she continually amazes and inspires me.

I will say that I am intimidated by the Big bloggers sometimes….the ones who have sponsors and are asked to write in on BIG sites….and some of them make it obvious that they also consider themselves elevated above others in the blogosphere…(Dooce makes $40,000 a month…mehh)…but others do a really good job of keeping things closer to my reality…so the Award for Blogger Keepin It Real is Jenn at Baby Makin(g) Machine. She blogs past ‘perceived trendiness’ of all things baby, and talks about things like the financial considerations of getting a doula, and she makes her own Baby Legs. I appreciate her reality, and seeing her hopes and fears and the realness of her and her life, always makes me smile.

Photography is really something I want to be better at before I have kids (hmmm, new addition to the Baby Bucket List??) and its bloggers who can take amazing pictures that keep this as an ongoing goal of mine. So the Award for Awesome Pictures I Drool Over goes to Kristal, at Good Food, Good Friends, Good Life. She took weekly pictures of her belly (both pre and post-baby!) and created the coolest baby book I’ve ever seen. SO many of her posts are favorited in my Things to Do for Baby list. But even with my jealousy about all her cool ideas (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right??) she talks about cloth diapering that even makes ME think I can handle it.

When I think about being a working Mom, it makes my head spin a little. I have a hard enough time with a job and homework, and adding in a baby just seems so overwhelming. Stay at Home Moms find it overwhelming, I’m doomed! But sometimes there are woman that just make me think, I can do this. The Award for Super Mom goes to Elizabeth, at Confessions from a Working Mom. She has adorable G, she works, she co-edits Our Mommyhood, she’s a commenting queen, has a way cool blog with things like Queen for a Week, and just generally makes it look effortless. On the days where I’m thinking my life is just too crazy (or when I’m late in submitting something to Our Mommyhood!) seeing Elizabeth in action reminds me that I can totally do this when I have a baby.

So those are my awards….if you can, head over to these lovely ladies blogs and give them some blog love!

From: Mom, queenb@thehoneyb.com
To: Honey, honey@thehoneyb.com
Date: Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Subject: Monday Miscellany 

My Dear Honey,

Your ears are still ringing from Vegas???? Wish I could say the same, but alas, my daughter, my dear Honey, never called to let her loving Mother know that she was OK and I could dial down from code red in the worry department. {Seriously, I thought Marmot had called you!} Five full days I was sitting in the dark with a bottle of Valium and my cell phone waiting for a call from you – or worse yet the Las Vegas morgue to schedule a viewing. {Mom, you watch too much CSI.} Worrying, day in and day out that my little Honey was OK.

I know that I was supposed to relinquish the worrying about you to dear Marmot on your wedding day – but I am sorry to tell you Honey I don’t think he is up to the task. I called him 3 days into your trip to see if he had heard from you and I am sorry to report that he was fishing – yes fishing – not worrying, not waiting, nor pining away for my dear Honey – Fishing! He was excited to tell me about a half dead trout that he had just dragged out of the water, some nasty fish bait the dog was eating off the shore, and how weather affects the fish biting. But, believe it or not, he could not remember one thing to report about you dear!

*I think my ears are still ringing from Vegas- and YES, I have a what happens in Vegas story, head over to Our Mommyhood around April 7th to get the horrid details!

*As a follow-up to my skin-related gripe Calling in the Exterminator, I called Sephora’s Beauty Help Line (didn’t I tell you they were wonderful?) and they recommended the Murad Acne Complex Starter Kit, just to see if it can help my skin. So far I’m two weeks in and I’ve got a fantastic breakout happening on my forehead, but according to the box that means its working and my skin should clear up quickly. I noticed my skin was getting a little dry along my jawline, but I just quit putting the exfoliating gel there and it helped.

*I’ve got some awesome giveaways coming up…stay tuned! I’m trying a new direction, with a purse/bag/shoes theme…

*Speaking of themes, I’m thinking we should invite Queen B. (my Mom!) to do a regular feature here….what would you like her to write about??

This last week I was in lovely Las Vegas at a conference- and by conference, I mean the boring thing you have to listen to before you can enjoy a free vacation. (It’s kind of like a timeshare presentation, but you can’t show up hungover because your boss is there.)

Admittedly, the ice got pretty well broken with the boss. Her suitcase came out of the chute onto the baggage carousel and exploded. And I mean zipper bursting open in cartoon-fashion, all her stuff going around the carousel. Nothing breaks the ice like grabbing armfuls of your bosses underwear.

But despite the conference, I did my part to stimulate the Vegas economy. Note to self: Google gambling strategies before walking up to a roulette table with $40 melting a hole in your pleather clutch.

And the best part? I got to meet another blogger! Kaitlin from Ah My Married Life was in Vegas with her Hubs, and we went up the strip to see the Bellagio water show.

I missed Marmot like crazy, but it was fun to see Vegas and way fun to meet a fellow blogger-friend!

From: Mom, queenb@thehoneyb.com
To: Honey, honey@thehoneyb.com  
Date: Mon, Mar 23, 2010 at 8:10 PM
Subject: How Do You Catch a Minced Fish?

I opened up the Weight Watchers Dining Out Companion to see what in the world you would be able to eat in Baker’s Square that would cut the proverbial mustard with Weight Watchers, and this is what they said ….
and I quote, If you are sitting your chubby little bottom down in here thinking that you are a true Weight Watcher think again. You can have an ice tea, eat 2 packets of ketchup and suck on the salt shaker at the table.

Just thought you’d like to know!

Love from your Mother,
Queen B.

I’ve got babies rabies SO bad….

My niece Baby Belle is seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen…she makes me want one of my own!
Marmot has started pointing out cute babies when we’re out and about…it makes me think its so cute, he likes kids…he’ll be such a good Dad…awww…

I keep thinking….a lot of women get their master’s degrees at the same time they have kids…why do I think I’m so special that I should wait on kids until I at least get part of the way there??

It would be a really easy way to get rid of the cat…Snooty Kitty hates me, and I’ve already warned Marmot that if she so much as looks cross-eyed at my child she’s outta here….

I need new clothes….and since I keep wandering into the maternity section of Target anyway, why not?? Seriously, they need to have a partition between the maternity and the fat women clothes, because I can’t tell the difference!

And, because I just want one of my own…that’s why. I think it might be time to re-visit the Baby Bucket List, and check on my progress!

Sephora…oh, wonderful Sephora. The mecca of makeup. I’ve been talking up Sephora so much on Twitter, Shandal said I should do a post about it….a post about my love of Sephora? No problem! lol

This has every brand of makeup I’ve ever heard of….Dior, Lancome, Benefit, and even more that I’ve never heard of!

This is better than drugstore makeup shopping, pretty much because you are expected to try everything. They have little stations at the end of the aisles with makeup remover, cotton balls, qtips, disposable mascara wands, and a mirror. When we go up to Sephora, I don’t wear makeup for the trip up there, and I usually come out looking like Mimi.

And another awesome part? The employees actually know things about makeup. Like you can ask them a question, and they can give you advice. My favorite is the gay guy- although he freaks me out a little, mostly because his makeup is better than mine. But he’s given me some awesome skincare advice. The advice is has always been right on, and its so fun to be have them recommend things that you wouldn’t have ever thought about.

Speaking of things you haven’t thought about, they’ve got some wild makeup. Make Up Forever is a brand that specializes in crazy colors, like canary yellow eyeshadow. Too wild for me (I just got up the nerve to try their translucent matte powder- lol) although I’ll admit I have a secret desire to try the crystal studded fake eyelashes.

The best thing I’ve ever gotten from Sephora? Bar none, Lancome L’Extreme mascara. I look like I actually have eyelashes, as opposed to the stubs that I inherited from my mother (sorry Mom!). Totally worth the $25 price tag!

Its impossible to go into that store and not get excited about makeup. And I come out with what Marmot has termed Sephora Euphoria. lol

For real. Take a trip through, tell me what you think!

And if you’re a Sephora fan….what’s your favorite Sephora find??

Every time Marmot sees this ad he cracks up, because although he didn’t know me at that age and we grew up on absolute opposite ends of the country, he ‘knows’ that this is what I was like a child.

Just to add to his perceived hilarity, he served me fish sticks for my birthday dinner on Tuesday. Ladies, I married a comedian!

Can’t wait to hear what Mom (Queen B.) has to say in response to this post. I’m almost making this too easy for her. (One spoiler is I know that at least once before I turned one, I lobbed a corn muffin at the back of her head, quite likely in protest of too much all-natural food, she was a hippie.)

And I recently got called picky by the waitress at Baker’s Square. If I’m that picky, seriously, why am I in Weight Watchers?

Fish stick anyone? Its not minced.

From: Mom, queenb@thehoneyb.com 
To: Honey, honey@thehoneyb.com
Date: Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 3:24 PM
Subject: March 15th – Friday Book List

Have I read any good books lately??? Do Bears still poop in the woods??? Is the Pope Polish??? Just a note Mom, the Pope is German…  

Let me give you *my* list of Perfect Books and the Perfect Goodie Combinations to go with them – because you see Honey, you can’t read and truly enjoy a good book without your reading glasses, a cup of tea, and a “nummy” (as you used to say back when chubby was still cute!)

Divided into categories, for your convenience:

Category: What Your Mother Wants You to Know About Men
Goodie Recommendation: Coffee, hot and strong. An Atkins bar. Also, add a pen and a notebook for jotting down ideas and thoughts for future reference.
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment Good for all of us female types no matter how young or old, married or single, fat or thin. This is a tell it like it is, fun, easy to read manual on how to treat Marmot and others of his species. I don’t agree with him on everything – he advocates doing the “doodle-dance” after just three months and I, being an old fashioned girl, would vote for waiting till the wedding night (as I know you would to Honey). I have ordered this one to share with your sisters and you. First I have to go through and highlight parts for each of you… Pink for Honey B, Yellow for Apple B, etc… I knew you would appreciate the added emphasis.

Category: Ahhh…Just for Me!
Goodie Recommendation: Mug of Tea (any type). Cinnamon Toast. Also a good pillow and one of your Grammas knitted afghans to curl up under.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Has everything you would want in a sit in a sunny window and enjoy book! A little history (WWII), of the type that does not put you to sleep. A little drama, romance, and sweet humor. All rolled together in the form of letters written from a writer in the late 40′s to her publishing agent and friends. This one is a jewel!

Category: Child in your Lap (Must be read aloud)
Goodie Recommendation: Glass of Chocolate Milk (in a sippy cup to avoid spillage). Homemade cookies (at least a handful). Comfy couch or big rocker depending on the age of the child.
The Wonderful Shrinking Shirt You have to do the voices when you read this one! Your own variation of “Hillfolk-Hillbilly” will be perfect. Think Beverly Hillbillies, then make it even twangier and louder – go ahead – get into it! This book is as much fun to read as it is to listen to. I have been known to read it to the dog when there was a shortage of short ones around. I tried reading it to your father (Mr.Left-Brain) – he sat next to me on the couch and listened with a completely straight face – even after I gave him a cookie! I think that is when I started reading to the dog.

Well thats all I can squeeze out of my gray matter today.
Love you Honey B,
Mom

The Friday Book List is back! I kept forgetting to post it on Friday’s, and I’ve finally said screw it, we’ll just pretend its Friday…who doesn’t love Friday??

This past week I’ve been thinking about what I consider to be, the Best Books EVER.

The first mention is….The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The first mention of this book was on a phenomenal post on ProBlogger (but aren’t they all phenomenal, seriously, get on the newsletter-via-email list) and it mentioned the book in the context of blog security. This book IS the reason why I ignored homework, husband, and Twitter all weekend. I don’t say it lightly, but this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m not usually into psycho-drama type books, but this one had me completely sucked in by page 20, with a story that I couldn’t figure out. LOVED it. The second (of a trilogy) is being released on March 23rd, I’ve pre-ordered.

The second book, which was number one until the above book, and that is….My Sister’s Keeper I know some people have a love-hate relationship with Jodi Picoult (I pretty much hate all her other books) but this one sucked me in. I’m not a crier, I’m not the emotional type, but I was all soggy with the crumpled Kleenex in this book. Seriously. I couldn’t decide who to side with! Haven’t seen the movie yet, due to a boycott because they changed the ending.

Another favorite….one I will read to my hypothetical children….Beauty This is an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast that my Mom was given as a gift. I think I read it in one sitting. This book is so much deeper than the fairytale I’d seen in the Disney movies, and the descriptions of everything was amazing- you could feel the velvet, taste the food…Robin McKinley’s writing was amazing, and the story was very rich. By far the best fairytale I’ve ever read.

And the fourth and final favorite…A Half Acre of Hell: A Combat Nurse in WW II Not fiction, but one of the best books I’ve ever read…and the reason I went into nursing school. I’m a history buff and this book captured one of the most raw and real WWII experiences I’ve ever read. It inspired a visit to the Army recruiting station less than a week after I finished reading it! The book was simply written, and was gripping.

Have you read any of these books….what do you think? Any others that you think would make it on my favorites list?

I use Amazon Affiliate links. I was not compensated for writing about these books, the opinions stated here are my own.