I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
Miscellaney Mom, who has the most beautiful family portrait on her blog sidebar, tagged me for a neat wish list meme.
I am a slacker and I have been tagged for a couple of memes, but I’ve been busy with a big work deadline and a freelance project!
Here are the instructions: Post two wish lists: 5 material wishes and 5 spiritual or more meaningful wishes. Invite five other bloggers to play along.
Material Wishes:
I’d love to move to a slightly bigger house. Our house was built in 1968 and has one and a half baths. While that didn’t seem like a big deal eight years ago when we bought it, we are now a three-woman household and someone will eventually go ballistic when all three of us are vying for the bathroom. Then again I’m one of those goofy people who starts to emotionally travel down a path prematurely and I get all weepy thinking about leaving the house where we had our babies. OK, so maybe we’ll just add on?
I’d love a new, previously loved, car for myself and the hubby as we are both now in the 100,000 plus mile club. I’ve narrowed it down to the Chrysler Pacifica. I’ll count this as two wishes.
I’d love hardwood floors in our kitchen and den. With two small children and two dogs, one of whom is currently shedding like a mofo, and yes mofos do shed, the berber carpet in our den has seen better days.
I’d love a Dyson vacuum cleaner (this one is purple and for homes with animals…hurrah.) A pink one to be specific. A girl can dream dammit. Do they make a pink one? Or am I dreaming?
Spiritual Wishes:
So now you know I want a bigger house, or at least one more bathroom, I’ll focus on some more spiritual things.
I really long to be a more patient mama. I typically have one last nerve standing, and one of the girls ends up stepping on it. Girls, those cheap pointy plastic dress heels hurt!
I would love for us to find a church home. We’re sporadic, at best, at attending church.
I’m trying my best to live each day with gratitude for the blessings I already have, and there are many, instead of thinking things like “I’d be happier if this would happen or if we could just do this.”
I want to be a better listener. I’m a talker by nature.
I want to relish all the little ordinary moments with my family. There are so many sweet things my girls do every day that are truly amazing and worthy of cherishing forever. I’m finding that it’s not the big events, but the little things, that make motherhood an incredible journey.
I’m tagging Jill at Who Could Ask for Anything More?, Anne at Bun in the Oven, Debunot, Lisa at Life With Our Little Ladies, and Pattie.
OK, here goes round two, meme two!
Don Mils Diva, a fabulous working mom blogger from Canada I discovered through Rachel at A Southern Fairy Tale, tagged me for a blog meme.
When did you start blogging?
October 2005
What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
October 2005 was the fall Miss A turned 6 months old. I was working from home with her while Miss C went to daycare and as someone who was used to being in an office from 8 to 5, Monday through Friday, I felt pretty isolated. I’ve always loved to write, and although I work in publishing, I’m primarily an editor. We had a family website that was fairly lame but I kept having this grand vision of what it could be. My husband reads a lot of news and political blogs and one day sent me the link to Dooce. I was amazed by her talent and I still read her to this day. Then I googled “mom blogs” and “working mom blogs” and found Nashville bloggers Busy Mom and Suburban Turmoil (although I didn’t realize that Lindsay was in Nashville at that time) and started clicking around their blogrolls and I found bloggers Debunot and Nancy and Anne and Mrs. Flinger and tons of great blogs. I’d have to say, though, that the blogger who really influenced the way I started blogging was Les (Mrs. Flinger.)
Are you trying to make money online, or are you just doing it for fun?
Definitely for fun. I mean, I just wrote about my dog’s spanking fetish. I’m very fortunate, however, to be part of the Real Girls Media beta ad network. I can’t quit my day job, but it is nice to be paid for writing about poop.
What three things do you love about being online?
The story telling aspect, whether it be through words, like the fabulous Mama Tulip, or words and photographs, like Pioneer Woman.
Being able to relate to so many parents and what makes them laugh, cry, and crave top shelf margaritas. (Hello, Margarita Buddy!)
The friendships.
What three things do you struggle with online?
Just how much to write about my girls as they get older.
Marketing my blog to increase readership, without being a total sellout. I’ve been doing more product reviews, but I hope by that by running them as a series that I won’t turn people away who dislike reviews and giveaways. I don’t want a separate review blog at this time.
I sometimes struggle with the TMI factor, and I don’t mean sex or anything vulgar. I mean there are some topics I won’t write about. I won’t write anything specific about my job. And I would never want to write anything that would embarrass my family, although I know my mother wishes I would quit writing about human feces.
I’m tagging Mama Tulip, Amy, and Sarcastic Mom.
Good answers!
Yes, you will need more bathrooms. Once you have another girl in the house who hits age 12 all sentimental feelings for a house with one full bath will be GONE. Trust me.
I have a Dyson, The Animal. It’s purple!! And it’s AWESOME!
Thanks for the tag!
Amy’s last blog post..It’s OK Except When It Sucks
We might have lived in the same neighborhood—that classic 1968 1.5 bath sounds verrrrry familiar.SQ`
I don’t mind your reviews and giveaways at all. You’ve done a great job surrounding them with lots of regular posts.
Speaking of blog marketing, do you have anything lined up for Rocks In My Dryer’s shindig today? I found a lot of new readers this fall by giving away a few books related to my blog.
Meredith’s last blog post..What didn’t work
I love the Pacifica’s. I have a chrysler 300 and even though I only have one kid I crave the Pacifica!
I do have a dyson (mines yellow) and it is a sucking machine! Love it
!
The bathroom thing, I can tell you this! We have 3 bathrooms, one of them being a master bath. I only allow the master bath to be used as it sucks cleaning more than one bath a day! Especially the toothpaste mess my daughter cannot live a day without doing!
Patience is over-rated! I guess I wouldn’t know as I lack in this department too but it makes me feel better anyhow
krissy’s last blog post..The good….The bad…..The boobies!
Krissy:
My 5-year-old makes the BIGGEST freaking mess with toothpaste. Seriously. It gets all over the sink and right now she has either bright blue or “princess” pink toothpaste to choose from. I guess none of the girly toothpaste is in good old boring sink “white.”
The Pacifica looks very cool. I need to test drive one.
Maybe the vacuum fairy will bring me Dyson?
Thanks for the tag! I’m always up for a good meme. (And I really want a Dyson, too…any color). RE: your second meme…looks like I’ve found me some new blogs to read.
Jill’s last blog post..Gone Crazy. Back Soon.
Stumbled upon your blog from Nap Warden . . . it is great to be reading about someone who has been doing this for awhile. I struggle with the TMI—but only my little sister and one friend know who I am and what I’m doing . . . but I’m PG (at worst) just in case my mom stumbles by (she can barely turn on a computer, so I’m not too concerned). I do however venture into some nasty topics—spit up, poo (compliments of my five-month-old) and politics.
Great blog!
LaskiGal’s last blog post..Family Feuds and Daily Drama
I want a Pacifica cause you can get all the frills and it is still almost affordable. And it is not a van, but for traveling I miss my 3rd row. We are trekking to San Diego and DH is determined we are taking his new truck. I keep reminding him that the kids can touch and that is never a good thing. And as you already know, I love my wood floors, even with the doggy hair tumbleweeds.
I hear you loud and clear on this one. I do reckon bloggers are good ``listeners’’ – because we take the time to see what other people are saying. I’d love to know what you think ….
david mcmahon’s last blog post..Santa Pause
Very fun! I agree with you on appreciating all of the blessings….need to work on that too.
Lisa’s last blog post..Meme time
I’m still trying to stop laughing about, “shedding like a mofo!”
Elexis’s last blog post..A Dose of Laughter
So glad you did this… it was nice to read your thoughts!!
Miscellany Mom’s last blog post..Howdy Neighbor!
Love the Pacifica, although Yesterday I bought the 2008 Chrysler Aspen, fully loaded and I must say. Heated Leather Seats, Touch Screen, Reverse Camera, UCall system… I. AM. IN. LOVE!!
Seriously! They’re a brand new car for Chrysler and I am so in love with it!!
Hubby surprised me
Loved the MEME and thanks for the shout out
So between dh’s b/day and the new car, now you know why I’ve been absent
Have a great Tuesday!
Rachel’s last blog post..Let it Snow?
So it’s not only my kids that make a hugemess wiht toothpaste. I even took it form out of themedicine cabinet and put in int he cabinet under the sink to prevent toothpaste smudges all ont he mirror and yet they manage to still get them on there, so annoying.
P.S. Target had the Dyson in Pink a few months ago (not sure if they still do. I think part of procides went to Breast Cancer Research. And odn’t hate me but I htink I’m finally getting a Dyson after much hard wishing. I only know a few people who have one and swear by them.
Jennifer’s last blog post..Bloggy Giveaways Carnival
Hi, thanks for the linky love. I was so glad when you found my blog (or I found yours?)—always so wonderful to find another mom who works and blogs and manages to stay semi-sane. Plus of course the two girls factor means we have lots of other similarities.
Speaking of which, I know I still owe you an e-mail… but work’s been killing me this week. This weekend, I hope!
p.s., we have a Dyson and it is fabulous. Expensive, but better than our others that kept breaking every year or so.
Nancy’s last blog post..Wii’re so proud
you have always been one of my favorite bloggers; I’m glad you broke into the fold with your bad-assed Nashville self! Thanks for tagging me (you ho-bag) I’ll get to it STAT.
Anne’s last blog post..sleeping with my eyes open.
Very nice information. Thanks for this. When did you start this blog?