Hiatus Highlights...

So, what-all happens when you're on break between kiddos? First and foremost, you catch up on sleep. In JuneBug's instance, I can count on one hand the times she slept the night through. You don't feel it while you're in the throws of the issues but once your little one has departed, exhaustion hits you like a Mack truck. 5 months of little to no slumber takes it's toll and sleep is still my bestie.

Big Time.

During hiatus we also cut loose and break away from the schedule. On weekends I stay up late catching up on all my DVR'd shows and eat we what we want, when we want. Take last weekend for example:

My Breakfast:


My Lunch:


My Dinner:


Chocotherapy? It works.. trust me..

My Rock Star Guest Tonight On Adoption Angles Is...

JUDY M. MILLER!!!

Judy is an adoptive parent and adoption advocate living in the Midwest with her husband and four children. She has mentored prospective adoptive and adoptive parents for over a decade about adoption—its joys and issues. Judy is a columnist for the adoption network, Grown in My Heart, focusing on transracial parenting, special needs, and teens and tweens. Her essays and articles appear in adoption and parenting magazines. Judy’s stories are featured in A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families (Adams Media), Pieces of Me: Who Do I Want to Be? (EMK Press), and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom (Chicken Soup for the Soul). She presented on “Finding Our Stories Online” at Story Circle Network’s Stories of the Heart. Judy works as an adoptive parent educator and also offers online classes for adoptive parents of tweens and teens at Parenting Your Adopted Child: Tweens, Teens and Beyond.

She can be found at http://www.judymmiller.com/ and on Twitter: @MamaMiller...

We will be chatting about adoptive parenting, of course, specifically about parenting tweens and teens who have been adopted.



Join us LIVE TONIGHT at 9PM EST On MomTV's Adoption Angles!

Raving Over Ravi ~ Instant Wine Chiller

The Ravi chills wine instantly as you pour, going from from room temperature to serving temperature in seconds! Remove your Ravi from the freezer, insert it in your bottle and pour. Wine passes through the frozen steel chamber inside into your glass, chilling your reds or whites to perfection. Don't worry, the chiller maintains the wine's characteristics and does not alter the taste. The finger tip-control air inlet helps you adjust serving temp and prevent dripping. It also can be used with your other favorite spirits, as well!



As a wine enthusiast, I love this very handy device.. it's an absolute must-have (and makes for a great gift, as well!).

Where can you find one?? Why, it's the first of many products at my OpenSky shop, as a matter of fact! It's only $40 and from now until August 16th shipping is FREE!! Zilch, Zip, NADA!!! Just plunk in the code: FREESHIPPING and it's.. let's say it again.. FREEEEE!!



Remember, not only are you buying an item I'm giving two thumbs up for, proceeds will be going to help build families at Parenthood For Me!!



Let The Shopping Begin!!

Perfect Moment Monday ~ Totally Stolen But Perfect Just The Same..

To be quite honest, last week was pretty much one big, "Meh".. I worked wicked long hours, I was exhausted and kinda cranky. And I missed BlogHer 10 in NYC. My Perfect Moment came LAST NIGHT when I SAW THIS ...

WHO IS ON THE LIST???? --->GO HERE<--- and find out! Yes, my Perfect Moment is totally kieped but it made my week. I screeched so loud it sent the canines scrambling out of the room and DH in to check on me.

I was that happy.

I am throwing down the Bloggy PMM Bling, but no, I did not actually capture the moment. I'm just basking in the glow of another's..

(Make sure to leave a note of congratulations!)

I Capture Perfect Moments.

It's A Sign...

Right?

MomTV Rocks BlogHer 2010 In NYC!!

Stuck at home and missing all the BlogHer 2010 fun in NYC (like Moi??!). Feeling down and left out?? Fret no more!! Some of our fav MomTV hosts (and hostesses) will be broadcasting LIVE Thursday (TONIGHT), Friday and Saturday!

Check Out The Awesome Schedule:

And join them LIVE ----> CLICK HERE <----

It'll be just like being there (in your pj's like me!)..

My Awesome Guest (& Giveaway Winner) Tonight On MTVAA!

Who's my rockin' guest tonight??! It's our dear friend Debbie Schwartz, that's who! She is one of our wonderful regulars and we adore her! Deb is the Program Coordinator at Adoption Connection at Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, where she oversees pre- and post-adoption education. She's chock full of valuable information (and a total HOOT, I might add!).

Don't forget.. I'll also be announcing the winner of the SkinCareRX's Personal Microderm System!!! A $180 value, y'all! There's still time to enter..

---> CLICK HERE! <----

Join us LIVE tonight on MomTV's Adoption Angles at 9PM EST (6PM PST!!) and chat it up with Deb and me!

Psssstt!!! There's Still Time..

To enter to win a Personal Microderm from SkinCareRX
(A $180 value!)

---> CLICK HERE <---

And scroll down for instructions!

One randomly-chosen winner will be announced LIVE on MomTV's Adoption Angles Wednesday (8/4) at 9PM EST!!

Now go on.. SSHHOOO!!!

My OpenSky Shop ~ With A Cool Twist!

I am thrilled to announce my partnership with OpenSky, a new online concept of shopping. It is a personalized feel with shopkeepers (moi) who believe in their products and share with their readers. What will I be selling? Ooohh, just wait and see..

BUT HERE'S THE COOL PART!

ALL proceeds (yep, 100% of what I make) will be going to Parenthood For Me, a nonprofit that helps build families via grants to aid financially with infertility treatments or the cost of adoption.Bottom line? Not only will you be able to purchase awesome products hand-chosen by yours truly, you will help build families by giving to an awesome cause!!

STAY TUNED!

Nantie Has Left The Building..

For all of you newer readers, our fost-adopt journey started in 2007 with DH's Auntie coming to live with us shortly after our original certification. She had just moved back from out of state and the home she owned here in town was rented. A brilliant family member came up with the fantastic idea of her moving in with us, getting certified and helping with the kiddos. Doing transport to visits, watching them, etc. while we were at work. It was a perfect solution for all of us. She was a Nanny-Auntie.. Hence her blog name, "Nantie".. Before JuneBug left a few months ago, it was decided that Nantie was going to retire from fostering and check some things off "The List". Some R&R, travel.. you name it. During Bug's time with us two people she adored passed away (one an expected loss, one completely unexpected .. both crushing). It was a wake up call that our time here is short and every single day a gift. She would continue to live here (of course!) but life was calling and there were adventures to be had. 

 Then, in walked Elvis.. (Nantie, I know you're giggling).

Out of the blue, she gets a phone call from a widowed gentleman-friend she has known for years. Someone she has had a crush on from afar.. and he asks her out on a date. (Cue romantic music and hearts a-flutter). Since that call, it has been nothing short of a fairytale romance. They both are head over heels and completely inseparable. Graceland (Elvis' home.. duh!) is about an hour away and Nantie (along with Miss Oreo-her darling Dal) are there pretty much full time now. 

For the first time in 2+ years, our home feels really big and empty. It's so quiet. Nantie, I will miss our weekend coffee klatsch and the hours we spent chatting at the kitchen table. Please know you made a huge impact on the lives of Jack, Jill, Mannie, Sunshine, JuneBug.. me and DH. Thank you for putting up with all our crazy, loving the children with all your heart and being with us on this journey. We could not of pulled this off without you and we truly hope you know how much we love you. I believe with all my heart the timing of this is so not a coincidence and it's His plan. We couldn't be happier for you and Elvis (still giggling) .. no one deserves this joy more than you two. Last but not least.. Thank you.. ThankYouVeryMuch! (sorry, I just couldn't help myself..) xoxoxo,