Have you searched your name on google? I have because I thought why not? You never know what will pop up. Let's face it, I have a very common name, it's so common that I went to junior high with another linda grant. She was white by the way. We were know by our middle names, Linda D. and Linda M. I always wondered what happened to her?
When I started this blog, I put in a google alert for my name and for a solid year, the only Linda Grant that popped up is a well published britsh author.
Well lo and behold, in the last two weeks I finally popped up on google alerts for Linda Grant, both were posts from two other sites, I write for NYC Moms Blog and NYMetropolista.
I am not sure if I should be happy or a tad afraid. Well, what's done is done, right. Everyone should have goal, so maybe one day, I will be known as the other Linda Grant in the publishing world.
Who doesn't want an extra weekend? No matter what category you fall into, working moms, single moms, stay at home moms, single ladies or dads, everyone is always looking for ways to save time. And to me, getting an extra weekend to do whatever sounds like a good deal, right?
So in lieu of your own personal assistant, (hey, I win the lottery, that's my first priority), check out the Real Simple and iVillage's Get an Extra Weekend Challenge.
The premise is that they give you small, manageable steps to make your day more efficient, giving you a weekend's worth of free time.I have no idea what the assignments are (I admit it, I am skeptical, too) but hey I am counting on the fact that since Real Simple is involved that they will actually give me truly doable daily time saving assignments.
You can sign up now and starting Monday, March 29, you will get a doable daily time-saving assignment.
I already signed up so we will see.
Disclosure: I was not paid for this post but sure wish I was since I love Real Simple and am a devoted subscriber.Hint, Hint.
Have no idea where I have been but Danny Glover is the next hottest comedian. He is currently on NBC's Community (never watch) and was a writer for 30 Rock.
This is one of the funniest bits I have seen in a long time. And thank god it's safe to be a nerd and black.
I guess I am going to have to spend the next few days playing all his clips on youtube.
Well, another year, another birthday. Since March 1st, my daughter has been counting down to her birthday on Saturday, March 13.
The birthday celebration began on Friday, March 12, with her school friends. For the school birthday party I ended up baking cupcakes, half chocolate, half pink, per my daughter's request.
Let me say that it is no fun walking in a rain storm carrying 24 cupcakes and a gallon of water. But it was worth just to see her classmates light up when they spied the cupcakes. Sorry no pics of my daughter at school, since I don't like to include kids whose parents might not want them on the web.
School Celebration
Because my friend was going out of town and her daughter would not be coming to the party on Saturday, we all went to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Chat n' Chew. Hands down, Chat n' Chew has the best mac n cheese on earth. Where is Gayle King when you need her to verify these things? Needless to say, I had to fortify myself with two glasses of wine after the crazy day that I had. Not only did I have to stay go to my daughter's dance performance at school which ended at 11, then I had to run back to get the cupcakes and clean my apartment before the party festivities on Saturday.
Baby Girl's Birthday
I have no idea where this project came from but this is what she decided to do first thing before her friends showed up for her birthday.
After weeks of trying to come up with ideas that would not break the bank, we ended up going to Darwin the Dinosaur at New York University which apparently has a family series of events. Who knew?
I don't know if you can tell from the clip but it is the coolest show that I have seen. They weren't kidding when they said it was a unique theater experience. The characters were people lit up as dinosaurs, flowers, birds that told the story of Darwin the Dinosaur, all set to great music. The girls and I were completely enthralled with the show. I wish it was playing more than once since I would have loved it if more people could see it. I think it takes a lot of money to put one of these shows on. Seriously, if I had millions I would totally support bringing it to Broadway, that's how good it is. I am surprised no gazillionaire hasn't discovered them.
After the show, we came back or should I say we swam back. Nothing more fun that dragging 3 girls, 8 blocks in a driving rainstorm and who all refused hoods and umbrellas. Needless to say, I spent fifteen minutes changing clothes and blow drying hair when get back.
Then it was pizza and cake. Yeah! Let me say for the record, do not leave three girls alone with a cake. All in all, it was fun party but even though it was only three girls, it was a lot of work. I seriously see why people are more than happy to pay beaucoup bucks to have someone else do all this.
Before
After
Party Dress mode
With godmother #1. (sorry godmother #2 forgot to take a pic)
After the girls left, the adults arrived for dinner and cake. I waited until the girls had left before I let my daughter open her gifts. Her big gift was a Nitendo DS. I think my daughter really thought she wasn't going to get it because the agreement was that she would have to save up her allowance to buy it. She, of course, was quite surprised and elated.
I guess it was a hit since the next day she said to me "This was the best birthday party."
31 Days to Build A Better Blog Challenge - Day 2 Create a List Post I like writing lists. They convey a ton of information, are easy to create, keeps you from rambling and for the reader is easy to scan. Here is a current post and some older posts from the past year.
This past week I was invited to a blogger event which I had planned to go because the celebrity spokesperson was someone I just loved from her 80s movies and trust me, I have seen all her movies and still watch them today.
The reason I ended up not going was because the celebrity's daughter was in my daughter's ballet class and the "mom" barely spoke to any of the other parents. If memory serves me correctly, she did not talk to any other parent during the time her daughter was in our class.
Now the flip side is that I don't blame her for not engaging with the other parents since I am sure there are plenty of moms who have sidled up to her trying to set up playdates just to become "her BFF." I had to resist attacking her with my "I am such a fan, I loved your movies when I was in high school" which I am sure she would have thought I was crazed stalker mom and run screaming from the class never to return.
So going to the event would have been awkward because let's face it, she would have been polite and friendly to me because hey that's what she gets paid to do and I would have been quietly thinking not so nice thoughts about her. As I see pictures of her with other mom bloggers, I am glad I did not go because having a photo of the two of us would have really been weird.
Today is your seventh birthday. It seems like only yesterday when the adoption agency called me to tell me all about you and that I would become a mother.
I remember the day we went to pick you up, you were sooo tiny and so quiet. How different you are today. In those first days, living moment to moment, waking up every two hours to feed you that I could not even imagine what you would be like when you turned 7 and now the day has arrived.
You are truly a treasure. When people hear that I adopted you, they always seem to say that you are so lucky and that I am doing a wonderful thing but I am the lucky one. I liked my life before you came along but I love my life with you in it. Now I can't even imagine my life without you.
It makes me so happy that you are such a happy kid, full of joy and energy. Your comments never cease to amaze me or make me laugh, like your list of things you are going to do when you turn seven.
Last week you announced to me, "When I turn seven, I am going to
Be more responsible
Do more around the house
Take out the recycling
Now that is a list.
Happy Birthday, tesoro
Love mommy
Wanna play? Here’s how to participate in Dear Kid Saturday:
Fellow blogger, Newyorkchica inspired me to join her in the 31 Days to Better Blog Challenge. I actually got as far as day l and then just forgot about it. So as you can tell, I am pretty competitive and I hate when other people are moving past me.
31 Days to Better Blog Challenge is a creation of one my idols, Darren Rowse of problogger.net.
Day 1 - Create an elevator pitch.
This is not unfamiliar to me as I have worked in corporate america for my entire career and from day 1, business school and mentors will tell you that you should be able to say what you do in 30 seconds if an executive gets into an elevator with you and asks what group you work in and what you do? Trust me no executive wants to hear more than 30 seconds of your pitch.
Here are my elevator pitches for both blogs.
www.newyorkcitysinglemom.com elevator pitch - I have two.
Parenting Tales from New York City, the good, the bad and the funny.
Tales of New York City Mom, the good, the bad and the funny
www.nycsinglemomreviews.com elevator pitch
Product reviews, giveaways and tips for the Modern Mom
Love your feedback, please. Don't make me beg. I know you have an opinion.
If you want to join along on your own challenge, head over to Darren's blog.
Here is an update of The Jumpstart Project -
Sorry I have been remiss in providing weekly updates so for the first post I will provide the monthly highlights. That's next month's goal, "try to be more timely and print this every week AND chart this everyday. I seemed to have forgotten some days.
Tuesday, January 5
Contacted former colleague from my first job in advertising who just happens to be the Publisher of Working Mother magazine. She gave me great career advice as well a great recommendation of an organization to join.
Thursday, January 7
Tried a home made facial made from ingredients I already have in my home. Here is the recipe from www.SpaIndex.com Spa Index Honey Oatmeal Facial
Honey is a natural antiseptic whereas the oatmeal absorbs excess oil and acts as a natural exfoliant.
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey
Finely grind the or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir honey and yogurt. Then add the oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste consistency has been reached. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes and rinse off with warm daily. Can be used daily.
January 11, 2010 - Took a podcasting class at Apple. Of course, I have yet to make a podcast. February goal.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Joined the Advertising Women of New York and volunteered for a committee. In all my professional years, I have never part of any organization.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
This is a weird one. I actually did not make an effort to talk to someone. Pet peeve I have is fathers who don't even make an effort to talk to you and you are always the one to make the effort because it's the polite thing to do. I got into the elevator with the dad who never talks (no, how are you? how's school, nada) and forced myself to say absolutely nothing and got off without saying goodbye, have a night evening. NOTHING.!!! Just a follow up, the next time I saw him he actually spoke first. Well, see he can make effort, dammit.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Met with Onica @blasianbabynotes.blogspot.com to discuss doing a book together. Details to follow.
Wednesday, January 23, 2010
Met with personal coach on ideas to networking/finding a job and came up with hire me page for my website. Let's face it, getting a job is all about networking.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Went to blog event and ran into another blogger/writer and asked her how I could invited to toy fair and she said she would send me her contact. Low and behold, its done and I am going.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Met with to two gym buddies to come up business ideas. We came up a with a couple so I need to come up with a name for the business and follow up notes.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Decided it was time to get fitted for a bra. Okay, shock of shocks, I am wearing the wrong bra size. I was wearing 38C and I am actually 40D.
Although I am unemployed, I need to acknowledge what I DO HAVE and what I am THANKFUL for as I am coming up on my one year anniversary of being laid off.
My Health - I am healthy, enough said. In fact, I have lost 10 pounds and lowered my blood pressure.
My Friends, Family and Former Colleagues- Everyone has been supportive during these stressful times. And although the advice from one family member is little ka-ka, I know it is coming from the heart. I am grateful to former colleagues who I have been out of touch for years have been so willing to provide networking contacts to help in my job search.
My Home - It is hard seeing a constant barrage of news stories about foreclosures which is depressing and makes me angry that the banks are so unwilling to work with families to keep their homes but I am lucky that I am not in that situation. My daughter and I have a nice roof over my head and frankly, I probably give more to the homeless (even to the U.H.O., which is under investigation by the Attorney General) because I have a home.
Unemployment Benefits - Because I live in a double digit unemployment state, unemployment benefits were extended time and time again. Sure its only $405/week, but it's better than nothing.
Cobra Subsidy - No matter your thoughts on the insurance plan being discussed, to be unemployed and have a huge cobra payment is an unbelievable financial burden. So the 65% subsidy approved to pay for Cobra has been a $$$ god send (actually it's Obama send.)
Time for my Daughter - I will eventually will find a job but as I think back on her first year of elementary school and having to drop her off in the cafeteria so I could get to my job on time (because my manager was a jerk was a stickler for arriving at 9 even though I never took lunch and worked until 7), I am grateful for the time to walk her to school and drop her off like the other families.
As anyone knows, the morning routine is akin to rustling cattle, moving them here and there all in an effort to get to a chosen destination on time. While it consistently makes me crazy trying to get my daughter out the door, so we don't get the dreaded late pass. This morning, I realized that I actually need to cherish the walks to school.
It's twenty valuable minutes out of our day where my daughter has the most non-linear, off on a tangent, stream of consciousness conversations every imaginable. Lord knows what goes on in her head but I like our little conversations.
My AHA moment occurred to me as we passed some middle schoolers and I realized that before I know it the next few years will pass me by and she will be going to school by herself. And as history shows, she will turn into one of those stereotypical, moody and non-communicative tweener/teenage girls
So now I gladly enjoy the walk to and from school every day.
