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Thursdays Tunes - I was a Teenage Anarchist
I know some of you like Against Me! Have you heard the new record? Pretty stinkin good! Love this one, I was a Teenage Anarchist... but the video is a little much for me... whatcha think?
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Wordless Wednesday - OUCH!
I figured with all the sun burn posting from Lynn & Brooke I would post mine... we went to a Dodgers game week or so ago and I per usual mama mistake... i slathered everyone else up and didn't put any on myself... and of course, I got burnt... OUCH!
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Custom Tote Giveaway from the ONE & ONLY: Brooke Van Gory!
Now, i can't even begin to tell you how excited about this I am... I realized that Tuesday had come again, and i didnt have a giveaway to post! So I gave Brooke a call and said - hey! Lets You should giveaway a wet bag or a gift certificate on my blog this week! Of course, in all Brooke's awesomeness she said yes, but she upped the ante ... and have a super special giveaway in store for you... but first, lets talk about the Mrs. behind Brooke Van Gory...
Brooke is one of my bestest friends... not only is she an amazing friend & mama... but she's an awesome seamstress... All of her diaper bags (Expedient Bags) are custom made just for the customer... you choose the color of your base, and the print of the pockets... and can even be as detailed as the piping & stitching... see?! i told you... amazing...
All of these diaper bags are her standard design... and you can even order it in a larger size. They are also GREAT for cloth diapering mamas who have to carry around a lot of diapers... and dont forget to ask her about the custom matching wet-bag that attaches to the outside of the bag so it doesn't take up room on the inside! But dont think that is all... she doesn't just do diaper bags! She also makes beautiful camera bags...
as well as an awesome, simpler tote style bag... that I totally love.
The Fundamental is a generously sized tote-style diaper bag. It is perfect for daily running around, for trips to the park, or to leave with a sitter. A bit smaller (not by much) then The Expedient this bag was bult to allow for plenty of room inside to allow for diapers, blankies, toys, and bibs, and 2 outer pockets for "mommy things". Its perfect for daddy's on the go... Speaking of Daddy's on the go... Brooke made this tote for The Guncles to send along in my gift basket for them! Awesome right!?
And guess what... you will get one too. Brooke is going to give one lucky winner the "Doodle Skulls" Tote bag... customized to your liking...
The tote will be black, with the black & white doodle skulls print, and you get to choose the coordinating color for the straps. This print is perfectly neutral, so if you are wanting something daddy will carry too I would recommend maybe a red? Or.. oh, oh oh!! Turquoise would be awesome :) Totally fun & awesome right?
This bag is a $59.99 value that one lucky winner will get for free!
Heres how to win :)
How to Win:
#1: Make ANY purchase from Brooke Van Gory and get 5 extra entries.
#2: Follow Brooke on Twitter!
#3: Follow RockerByeBaby on Twitter!
#4: Tweet This: (up to once daily)
"Customized tote bag #giveaway from @crossbones_inc ($60 value)at the @rockerbyebaby blog Comment at link to enter! http://bit.ly/9OfsIv"
#5: Heart Brooke Van Gory and two items on etsy
#6: Follow the RockerByeBaby blog! (sidebar)
#7: "Like" Brooke Van Gory on facebook!
#8: "Like" RockerByeBaby on Facebook.
#9: Put the Rockerbyebaby flash button on your blog or website. (3 extra entries) *sidebar*
#10: If your the lucky winner, what color accents would you pick!?
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Brooke is one of my bestest friends... not only is she an amazing friend & mama... but she's an awesome seamstress... All of her diaper bags (Expedient Bags) are custom made just for the customer... you choose the color of your base, and the print of the pockets... and can even be as detailed as the piping & stitching... see?! i told you... amazing...
All of these diaper bags are her standard design... and you can even order it in a larger size. They are also GREAT for cloth diapering mamas who have to carry around a lot of diapers... and dont forget to ask her about the custom matching wet-bag that attaches to the outside of the bag so it doesn't take up room on the inside! But dont think that is all... she doesn't just do diaper bags! She also makes beautiful camera bags...
as well as an awesome, simpler tote style bag... that I totally love.
The Fundamental is a generously sized tote-style diaper bag. It is perfect for daily running around, for trips to the park, or to leave with a sitter. A bit smaller (not by much) then The Expedient this bag was bult to allow for plenty of room inside to allow for diapers, blankies, toys, and bibs, and 2 outer pockets for "mommy things". Its perfect for daddy's on the go... Speaking of Daddy's on the go... Brooke made this tote for The Guncles to send along in my gift basket for them! Awesome right!?
And guess what... you will get one too. Brooke is going to give one lucky winner the "Doodle Skulls" Tote bag... customized to your liking...
The tote will be black, with the black & white doodle skulls print, and you get to choose the coordinating color for the straps. This print is perfectly neutral, so if you are wanting something daddy will carry too I would recommend maybe a red? Or.. oh, oh oh!! Turquoise would be awesome :) Totally fun & awesome right?
This bag is a $59.99 value that one lucky winner will get for free!
Heres how to win :)
How to Win:
#1: Make ANY purchase from Brooke Van Gory and get 5 extra entries.
#2: Follow Brooke on Twitter!
#3: Follow RockerByeBaby on Twitter!
#4: Tweet This: (up to once daily)
"Customized tote bag #giveaway from @crossbones_inc ($60 value)at the @rockerbyebaby blog Comment at link to enter! http://bit.ly/9OfsIv"
#5: Heart Brooke Van Gory and two items on etsy
#6: Follow the RockerByeBaby blog! (sidebar)
#7: "Like" Brooke Van Gory on facebook!
#8: "Like" RockerByeBaby on Facebook.
#9: Put the Rockerbyebaby flash button on your blog or website. (3 extra entries) *sidebar*
#10: If your the lucky winner, what color accents would you pick!?
Mentoring Monday: The people you might not (or won’t) get to meet.
If you havn't noticed.. Aymee has totally stepped up and taken over the Mentoring Monday posts... and i gotta say im loving these little letters to Maddie... hope your enjoying it too!The people you might not (or won’t) get to meet.Dear Madeline,There are so many important people who you will meet in your lifetime. The first being your dad and I. Then you’ll meet and grow up knowing your grandparents, aunts and uncles (and pseudo-aunts & uncles). You will take them for granted because you will have always known them. But there are some people you might never get to meet in person or get to know. Someday, when you’re old enough, we will have the conversation about death so you will understand this better. But there are/were people in our lives who are very important to your dad and me; people who were a constant in our lives and whom we sadly took for granted as kids.My grandmother, your great grandmother, is one of those people. She is my mother’s mother, and currently lives in sunny Florida with my aunt.
She was born January 3, 1925, which means she lived through all the amazing historical times you will learn about in history class: the Great Depression, WWII, the legendary 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. As I’m writing this, she is 85 years old. Betty, as she is frequently called, always has a smile on her face, and gives the strongest bear hugs of any five-foot woman I’ve ever met. She would also always accompany her hugs with an eager kiss to your cheek, leaving a bright pink lipstick mark. When I was a kid, as we’d drive away after visiting her at her house in St. Louis, she would stand on the front porch and wave until she couldn’t see the car anymore: every time, without fail. These things I took for granted as a kid. But I now know the bear hugs, the kisses, the lingering wave--those were all expressions of the deep vastness of her love. She now has Alzheimer’s disease, which makes it hard for people to remember things. The farther back the memory, the easier she can remember it. But she’s starting to forget some of her later memories. Unfortunately, one of the memories she will have trouble remembering as time goes on will be that she has a beautiful great granddaughter whom she undoubtedly loves very much. Currently, we talk often enough that she not only remembers I’m pregnant, but calls to ask how you are. She is very excited to meet you, and I hope your dad and I can make that happen. It will prove difficult, because we live on opposite ends of the country, but one lesson I want to teach you throughout life is never say never. No one knows what the future holds: anything can happen.Another person I took for granted as a kid because he was always around and available is my grandfather (my father’s father), your great grandpa. This is a rare case where you can use the word never. I regret you won’t be able to get to know your Great Grandpa Jones personally because he died a few years before you were born. But he would love if I show you pictures and tell you stories about him—so I will.
He was a simple, quiet, happy man, who always wanted to spread smiles to everyone in the room. He loved having the extended family over for holidays; the house buzzing with kids while the parents sat around the kitchen table, in the living room, or on the breezy back porch and chatted about life, and played card games. I will eternally remember him lounging back in a chair wherever he sat, enjoying a cigar, trying to make us laugh. “On the shores of Gitche Gumee, by the shining Big-Sea-Water…” he would recite epically. As a kid, I had no idea what it meant (it is “The Song of Hiawatha,” a famous 19th century poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Song_of_Hiawatha) but he loved to recite it. It wasn’t until recently that I began to understand him. He was always a distant family figure, and I regret that now. We were two generations who loved each other, but didn’t know how to relate to one another. You will have people like this in your life too. They will generally be older; your dad and I, your grandparents, your teachers, etc. You might have trouble understanding them because you have not yet seen what they have seen: life experiences you are years away from that make them who they are. I promise you: this will become easier to understand as you get older. In the meantime, it is our job to relate to you, because we have been through what you’re going through. It is our job to make sense of this crazy thing called life, and lead you through it safely. Everyone involved in your life is looking forward to developing these kinds of memorable relationships with you. Much like how our grandparents loved us so deeply, and how we often didn’t understand just how much, your grandparents will love you the same. They simply cannot wait to see you, hold you, and watch you grow. Each of them is a different person who will show their love in different ways. Their limitless love will make a lasting impression on you, and you might not understand it until you have children of your own.Love,Mom
Another edit from me: Aymee... Maddie - ugh... this post killed me in all the greatest ways possible... eyes welled up with tears through the whole thing... As you know, I feel the same way about my grandpa - and my memories of him are so clear... i can still smell him. A mix of tobacco, zippo, and oil... mmm such a wonderful scent. Too bad they dont sell it as cologne. It literally breaks my heart that I will never see him squeeze on the boys... he would have been so proud of me... 2 boys in his sea of 5 girls. Such a mans man... ugh... i wish. i wish. i wish... I love you mimi and maddie, your not even here and I already love you... and miss you so so much... im homesick for the fact I havn't gotten to rub your mamas belly... and kick my hand and watch you wiggle about... and i miss you because i know i will not get to see you NEAR as much as I want to... think of me as the ultimate "god" mother... I will shower you with gifts, so youll know im always thinking of you even though im not there... and ill make your mommy ALWAYS show you pictures of me and the boys so you don't forget us... and maybe even tell a few embarrassing stories so your mama can giggle... i love you both dearly... mama - give maddie a little squeeze for me... or a wiggle? Or a hand kiss? I dunno whatever you can do to let her know im thinking of her ;) Love you. Amber
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She was born January 3, 1925, which means she lived through all the amazing historical times you will learn about in history class: the Great Depression, WWII, the legendary 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. As I’m writing this, she is 85 years old. Betty, as she is frequently called, always has a smile on her face, and gives the strongest bear hugs of any five-foot woman I’ve ever met. She would also always accompany her hugs with an eager kiss to your cheek, leaving a bright pink lipstick mark. When I was a kid, as we’d drive away after visiting her at her house in St. Louis, she would stand on the front porch and wave until she couldn’t see the car anymore: every time, without fail. These things I took for granted as a kid. But I now know the bear hugs, the kisses, the lingering wave--those were all expressions of the deep vastness of her love. She now has Alzheimer’s disease, which makes it hard for people to remember things. The farther back the memory, the easier she can remember it. But she’s starting to forget some of her later memories. Unfortunately, one of the memories she will have trouble remembering as time goes on will be that she has a beautiful great granddaughter whom she undoubtedly loves very much. Currently, we talk often enough that she not only remembers I’m pregnant, but calls to ask how you are. She is very excited to meet you, and I hope your dad and I can make that happen. It will prove difficult, because we live on opposite ends of the country, but one lesson I want to teach you throughout life is never say never. No one knows what the future holds: anything can happen.Another person I took for granted as a kid because he was always around and available is my grandfather (my father’s father), your great grandpa. This is a rare case where you can use the word never. I regret you won’t be able to get to know your Great Grandpa Jones personally because he died a few years before you were born. But he would love if I show you pictures and tell you stories about him—so I will.He was a simple, quiet, happy man, who always wanted to spread smiles to everyone in the room. He loved having the extended family over for holidays; the house buzzing with kids while the parents sat around the kitchen table, in the living room, or on the breezy back porch and chatted about life, and played card games. I will eternally remember him lounging back in a chair wherever he sat, enjoying a cigar, trying to make us laugh. “On the shores of Gitche Gumee, by the shining Big-Sea-Water…” he would recite epically. As a kid, I had no idea what it meant (it is “The Song of Hiawatha,” a famous 19th century poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Song_of_Hiawatha) but he loved to recite it. It wasn’t until recently that I began to understand him. He was always a distant family figure, and I regret that now. We were two generations who loved each other, but didn’t know how to relate to one another. You will have people like this in your life too. They will generally be older; your dad and I, your grandparents, your teachers, etc. You might have trouble understanding them because you have not yet seen what they have seen: life experiences you are years away from that make them who they are. I promise you: this will become easier to understand as you get older. In the meantime, it is our job to relate to you, because we have been through what you’re going through. It is our job to make sense of this crazy thing called life, and lead you through it safely. Everyone involved in your life is looking forward to developing these kinds of memorable relationships with you. Much like how our grandparents loved us so deeply, and how we often didn’t understand just how much, your grandparents will love you the same. They simply cannot wait to see you, hold you, and watch you grow. Each of them is a different person who will show their love in different ways. Their limitless love will make a lasting impression on you, and you might not understand it until you have children of your own.Love,MomAnother edit from me: Aymee... Maddie - ugh... this post killed me in all the greatest ways possible... eyes welled up with tears through the whole thing... As you know, I feel the same way about my grandpa - and my memories of him are so clear... i can still smell him. A mix of tobacco, zippo, and oil... mmm such a wonderful scent. Too bad they dont sell it as cologne. It literally breaks my heart that I will never see him squeeze on the boys... he would have been so proud of me... 2 boys in his sea of 5 girls. Such a mans man... ugh... i wish. i wish. i wish... I love you mimi and maddie, your not even here and I already love you... and miss you so so much... im homesick for the fact I havn't gotten to rub your mamas belly... and kick my hand and watch you wiggle about... and i miss you because i know i will not get to see you NEAR as much as I want to... think of me as the ultimate "god" mother... I will shower you with gifts, so youll know im always thinking of you even though im not there... and ill make your mommy ALWAYS show you pictures of me and the boys so you don't forget us... and maybe even tell a few embarrassing stories so your mama can giggle... i love you both dearly... mama - give maddie a little squeeze for me... or a wiggle? Or a hand kiss? I dunno whatever you can do to let her know im thinking of her ;) Love you. Amber
Mid west vs. West coast Warped
So... Were driving home from warped tour stuck in traffic from all the vacationers/weekenders heading back from the beach to LA... I thought to myself wow, California traffic sucks!!! Ugh. it's one of the big things that makes me crazy living here vs the midwest... Which then got me thinking, almost everything is different... No family here... Very few friends... Rent is out of control for a tiny little place In a decient neighborhood... The weather - it's usually nice aside from the 120 degree face melting months... And on the flip side of that, Minnesota had -20 degree winters.. but like they say... "the cold keeps the assholes away..." which brigs me to my next point... Assholes. I'm so sorry to everyone I Cali that I love.... But I would say a good 75% of the people I have met here are total jerks.... Rude, snobby, stuck-up... Everyone is in a rush to get... Well, no where... Because your most likely stuck in traffic. Maybe that's why they're rushing... Just always late? I dunno... Anyways in the first 3 months here I went through two flakey and totally unreliable babysitters... And the 2nd one just stopped showing up... Who does that? Ugh. Anyways I'm rAmbling... California has been a huge transition for me... Minnesota nice is no longer :( if you need help, forget it... And don't ever count on someone holdin a door for you while helping yours kids in with a stroller. It will most likely swing shut and hit said stroller... And as I was reminded today... If someone if trying to get by. Don't expect an excuse me, they will shove their way through. With that being said... There was one kid that said excuse me today in the 7 hours at warped tour... Next, warped tour... I have been to a few warped tours and always had a great time.... But this was so different... I was having a great time if we were on the motion city bus... Watching everyone squeeze on little baby dot...
or even back stage watching the bands play... Totally awesome.
But alot of that changed shortly after... We went to watch a couple shows from the floor... Face to face... Riverboat gamblers (where we saw the cutest 4 or 5 year old boy rocking out with daddy) and alkaline trio... Through these shows, there was no stop pot smoking... And at trio right in front of me blowing right in my face. Don't get me wrong years ago I may not have cared... May even had joined! Who knows.. But I was looking around at the little kids and even the 14/15 year olds and it made me sick... It's not fair that kids can't go to a show or moms can't trust letting their teen out at a show without coming home with a contact buzz... Ya know? Maybe I'm older than I think, I dunno... I was just disappointed... I've never seen the drug thing as bad in the Midwest... Though here Its legal so I guess more people are willing to take the risk out in public... Guys... Heres a tip. Buy some cheetos... Go home.... Turn on pink floydd... And get baked. You will love it... And i dont have to smell you stanky weed. Another thing... The mosh pits are insane... I use to be all about getting right up front... Pushing people around and having a good time. But here I swear their out for blood! You shoulda seen the looks on some of these kids faces... Fun was gone... It was time to fight. I just don't get how bleeding & black eyes =fun. Again... Me= old?
Or maybe like zaq said... It may not be a west coast vs. Midwest thing.... Maybe it's just this generation of kids? Less care? Less respect? I dunno... I'm at a loss... Over all warped tour was great and I'm glad we went. Josh & Jill loved the goodies I brought for baby Dot... (especially the booger bashers :) and it was great to see some punk rock and some old friends... And drool over my MCS lover Matt... Lol and even with all the other drama... Let's face it... All warped tours should come with this view...
P.s. Would love to hear some input on this... how are shows different where you are?
- Posted by RockerByeBaby using BlogPress from my iPhone
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or even back stage watching the bands play... Totally awesome.
But alot of that changed shortly after... We went to watch a couple shows from the floor... Face to face... Riverboat gamblers (where we saw the cutest 4 or 5 year old boy rocking out with daddy) and alkaline trio... Through these shows, there was no stop pot smoking... And at trio right in front of me blowing right in my face. Don't get me wrong years ago I may not have cared... May even had joined! Who knows.. But I was looking around at the little kids and even the 14/15 year olds and it made me sick... It's not fair that kids can't go to a show or moms can't trust letting their teen out at a show without coming home with a contact buzz... Ya know? Maybe I'm older than I think, I dunno... I was just disappointed... I've never seen the drug thing as bad in the Midwest... Though here Its legal so I guess more people are willing to take the risk out in public... Guys... Heres a tip. Buy some cheetos... Go home.... Turn on pink floydd... And get baked. You will love it... And i dont have to smell you stanky weed. Another thing... The mosh pits are insane... I use to be all about getting right up front... Pushing people around and having a good time. But here I swear their out for blood! You shoulda seen the looks on some of these kids faces... Fun was gone... It was time to fight. I just don't get how bleeding & black eyes =fun. Again... Me= old?
Or maybe like zaq said... It may not be a west coast vs. Midwest thing.... Maybe it's just this generation of kids? Less care? Less respect? I dunno... I'm at a loss... Over all warped tour was great and I'm glad we went. Josh & Jill loved the goodies I brought for baby Dot... (especially the booger bashers :) and it was great to see some punk rock and some old friends... And drool over my MCS lover Matt... Lol and even with all the other drama... Let's face it... All warped tours should come with this view...
P.s. Would love to hear some input on this... how are shows different where you are?
- Posted by RockerByeBaby using BlogPress from my iPhone
