The random misadventures of a (formerly)Single Super Mom

Fall is upon us and with it, the rise of Pumpkin Spice everything.  This Basic Becky flavor has permeated everything from breakfast cereal to coffee and even dog treats.  I have seen the some of the worst pumpkin spice abominations in the world and all I ask myself is "WHYYYYY! WHY HAVE THE FOOD GODS FORSAKEN US!!!"  America, (because you damn well know the rest of the world hasn't jumped on this fall foolery), there is such a point that you need to just STOP THE MADNESS.  https://www.delish.com/food-news/g3649/gross-pumpkin-spice-products/ https://mashable.com/2017/09/17/worst-pumpkin-foods/#_zbbiVR0Ysqw I'm here to tell you, there is another contender for fall foods.  That often misunderstood tuber that people think is only good for one thing. The Sweet Potato.  The lowly sweet potato has been maligned and taken for granted.  Nutritionally, the pumpkin has less calories and sugar, but WHO EATS PUMPKIN. I don't see people chopping up a pumpkin and eat

As I sit here and look at all of the people posting pictures of their kids going off to college and how sad they are, I remember when I did that very same thing. I remember all of the milestones, all of the firsts, and how there aren't going to be as many firsts anymore. The first day of kindergarten when you swear they are too small to be left alone with these huge kids and all of the teachers and omg why can't they just stay home another year? I mean, we don't need electricity right??? Kindergarten Graduation... I CAN'T EVEN WITH THIS. The first day of middle school when you realize they're big kids but NOT TOO BIG OMG THOSE 8TH GRADERS ARE HUGE STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY BABY!!! 8th and 5th Grade Graduations....little did I know... Their first heartbreak.... I still stand by wanting to fight a second grader when she broke my baby's heart.  But I digress..... The first day of high school where you flash back to the first day of middle school an

For those who know me, I have been very open about my weight loss journey.  It wasn't something that started overnight, it took a long time to get to the point that I am at.  I was never a "small" child, just average.  When I hit puberty I started to gain weight but it didn't keep me from doing anything that I wanted to do.  I still played sports, hung out with friends, had a job at the mall...my weight didn't "define" me as a person. I went off to college for a while and my weight went up as most college girls' does, but not incredibly.  What I hadn't noticed was the small increments that my weight had been rising steadily over time and affecting my health in ways I never could imagine.  I was eventually diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and my metabolism was almost non existent.  I was carrying almost 300 pounds on a 5"1 body and I was dying. Wow. TBT.  I made the medical decision to get weight loss surgery in 2007 and I don&#

This week, the US made headlines when the WHO released its guidelines regarding the promotion of breastfeeding and formula when some countries announced that they were "bullied" and threatened with economic and military sanctions if they did not support the US position. http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-life-stevens-wednesday-breastfeeding-resolution-0711-story.html As someone who both breast and formula fed; I see this debate all the time.  In this country, we perceive breastfeeding unlike almost anywhere else in the world.  Of the richest nations, the US is in the bottom 3 among breastfeeding rates. It is a more polarizing topic among women than almost anything else. Feed in public? Shamed because how dare you show a boob.  Feed in private? Shamed because it's your right to feed your baby where you want to.  Formula feed? How DARE you not want to do what is best for your child.  Do you want them to have chronic illness? Because that's what form

Smiling in his white jacket (the kids always teased him about how clean his was!) When my son joined Team 4935, I originally was just a spectator.  Someone to bring snacks and cheer for the team.  Then I took on the official role as Team Mom. I would sit in the stands and take pictures, post on social media, live stream our matches, and generally make a complete spectacle of myself, much to the chagrin of my child. This past season, our amazing Marketing Mentor, Kevin Gingerich, approached me and asked me if I wanted an official "Mentor" spot as his co-lead.  I jumped at the chance! To be official?  Heck yeah! I happily submitted to the background check and began looking for ways to be as much help to our team as I could. Our team is comprised of kids in all colors of the rainbow. Many of these kids have parents that don't speak English. Some have parents that escaped war-torn countries to be here. And Kevin welcomed them all. He showed me how to be a mentor, s

I woke up this morning to the news that celebrity chef and Adventurer Anthony Bourdain had been found dead in his hotel room of an apparent suicide. I was shocked. Absolutely flabbergasted. Because this man seemed like he was a man who had everything. He clearly was fighting demons that nobody knew he was battling against. And if his friends and loved ones knew hew was battling, he didn't get the help that he needed or maybe even wanted. We may never know. Earlier this week, celebrity designer Kate Spade took her own life. She wasn't much older than I was. She had a son younger than my children. Again from the outside? This is a person who could do anything, go anywhere, see anything. Why would they give all that up? How can you leave your children to grow up without a parent? Kurt Cobain. Don Cornelius. Chester Bennington. Robin Williams. Chris Cornell. We ask ourselves so many times in cases of suicide, why? We think, It can never be THAT BAD for you to want to kill yourself.

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about my son's competition robotics team.  About how he came home one day and told me he wanted to join, and I had no idea what I was in for. Now, two years later, the phrase "It's more than just a robot" hits home more than I ever thought it would.  This year is the last year my son will be a part of Team 4935.  I watched him grow from a wide eyed 13 year old who had no idea what he was doing, to a confident 17 year old who amazes me every time I look at him.  I look at his teammates, seeing how they have grown so much. Our First Season with Team T-Rex Our Final Bag Day I never knew how big of a piece of my heart these kids would take.  I signed on to be "team mom" and be that person who could give a ride home when needed and bring snacks.  I ended up being so much more.  These kids enrich my life.  They make me humble.  They make me proud. They break my heart.  I love them each in their own unique way