Strollerderby : Stroller Derby playdates

Strollerderby Playdate: Movin' On Up

Erin White — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

So I just peeled the price tag off a tub of Whole Foods Two-Bite Brownies, signed my name to a "we're so glad you're here," card, and I'm on my way over to Harlyn Aizley's new pad for a playdate. Now I know it's really not polite to drop by unannounced before the moving truck is off the lawn, but I'm just so pleased to see her up and blogging again after what went down over at parents.com.

Aizley blog "Are You My Mothers?" was a terrific read in its old locale, and it promises to be an even better one now that Aizley has struck out on her own and can write about anything she damn well pleases. She chronicles her sweet and messy life with such humor and honesty and tenderness-- she's not afraid to write about her ex, or her sex, or her general dislike for the word "lesbian." And as the author of Buying Dad and the editor of Confessions of the Other Mother, it's clear that she is a person who has done some serious (and not so serious) thinking about lesbian mamahood.

So go on over and visit her. And bring the woman a casserole. Or maybe a nice plant. Moving on can really wear a girl out.

Strollerderby Playdate: The Critical Questions of the Season

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:56:00 GMT

Everybody's got loads of questions this time of year: What volunteer role in the preschool pageant shall I put you down for? How much can you contribute to the mail carrier's gift? Am I going to get all the toys I ask for if I tell Santa how much I need them? You are buying only eco-friendly organic hemp holiday presents, right? To which I've personally mastered the No thanks! Seriously? Oh hell naw. Ummm... responses with a quickness. But every once in a while one of those really good, really pondery, really important seasonal questions arises that you absolutely must sit down with some Rumpleminz and gingerbread cookie dough to consider. Here are a few of those treasures plucked like little precious chocolates from the virtual Advent calendar of the internets:

Blingy gifts or senti-presents from your partner? As posed by BlogHer.

Is the lampshade award worth losing your gig? "Hypothetically asked" by Dumb Little Man.

Can you incorporate these three holi-propriate words into your next mall shopping or monogramming experience? Dared by Wordlustitude.

Where are the crampons? And is this a planted post by Wordlustitude? Questioned by A Little Chaos.

Strollerderby Playdate: People I Read

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:02:00 GMT

Last week it was all about the friends, or at least people I would like to befriend, and so why not this week, too? Continuing the tradition started by Jessica, here are the parenting writers who take up way too much of my time.

For that, I love them and loathe them.

Oh, The Joys knows a thing or two about messes and poops.

Rebel Dad breaks down fatherhood like a 2-year-old high on Pixie Stix -- which is to say, he rocks. Non-stop.

Daddy Types is both crafty and cool. So many cool toys and so much good insight.

Strollerderby Playdate: Friend Week Continues

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:01:00 GMT

Jessica's post yesterday about her burgeoning bloggy tribe and her insatiable desire to steal wine coolers from her favorite writers got me thinking about my own daily reads, my own clique of writers who I must keep tabs on every day.

It never fails to amaze and astonish me that I know the inner musings of moms and dads I've never met, I've never seen or shared beers with (last dad here -- had to mention beer; it's obligatory). And yet, I've learned some fantastic bit of parenting advice or, in some cases, offered a virtual shoulder to lean on -- and vice versa.

I have far too many daily reads to list here, so maybe I'll continue this next week. But for starters, here you go:

Doodaddy -- The man can drink and fuck. Or so he claims.

Chicken and Cheese -- Digging the new digs.

World of One Thousand Different Things -- You want literary parenting? Go here.

I could go on for at least a solid dozen more. I promise to continue next week. Good idea, Jessica. Good idea.

Strollerderby Playdate: You WILL Be Jessica's Friend.

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:56:00 GMT

I've known a lot of women in my tribe for a long time. I danced with some of them on platforms of all-ages clubs with some of them, shared my first wine cooler with some of them, walked across the Quad on the first day of my college classes with one of them, sang camp songs at flagpole with some of them. But then there are the bloggers. Sure, I have bloggy friends, some of them I've even squealed over and drooled on -- I mean, MET CORDIALLY and politely handed my business card whilst conferencing in a business manner -- and some of them I've even stolen ashtrays and portable hard drives from -- or really, just post ideas and Bunco winnings. And then there are the bloggers who I don't necessarily know but think would fit perfectly into my life and my tribe. So, darlings, here are the bloggers I absolutely must get a dose of every single day and swear it is not just in a lame old attempt to make them like me and be one of my new BFFs:

CityMama: OK, this is technically cheating because she is actually a friend of mine but I am fully and unabashedly lobbying for her to take over the role of that one friend in high school that seemed like an A student to my parents but secretly persuaded me to sneak out. Not only is her writing right on every single day, she speaks to my inner Sa-sa-samantha Foxx like no other.

State of Grace: I decide, just by reading faithfully, that Grace is that smarty pants friend who just breaks it down to the raw truth. You know, the one who says yes, you should leave that ass monkey of boyfriend and no, you do not need that Bugaboo before the first playgroup meeting.

Amalah: Is fekking hilarious. Good Lord, I wish this woman lived next door. Or even in the next block. Hell, I'd just like to wave at her from across the blogosphere (hiiii, funny lady). Amy, I nominate you to get tipsy on my back porch with me on a Tuesday night, if only on talking about the co-op mommies.

I Am Bossy: With her photoshop wizardry and dry sense of hilarity, Bossy makes me laugh out loud every morning. I bet Bossy was a kick-ass college roommate who could work a word processor with four pages of stored memory like a freaking genius. I want her to take the place of my one roommate who's booty-length hair I had to hold back every Thursday night, also known as the rent payer with the pro-life signs and complete disregard of contraception and basic common sense. Please, Bossy. Take her away from my memory.

Friday Style: Suuuuuuuuuuuusan, please. Be that friend who comes over and absofreakinglutely cannot look at the flecks of sandbox sand and fishy crackers in my carpet and must vacuum now. Or better yet, gives me many props for the designer bag I found on clearance at TJ Maxx ans suggests I pair it with that diaper bag instead of this one. Or better even better than that, the one who asks what Jesus would do if he saw my bedroom closet, clearly the headquarters of a very disorganized and untidy Satan.

I've purposely set aside my narcissistic tendencies and have not included all the blogs of my esteemed Strollerderbycolleagues that I do read daily. But I am sure you know by now that you can hunt them down on the interwebs by clicking the profiles to the right.

Now, enough about us: What are the five blogs you must read every day?

Strollerderby Playdate: Last Days of Summer

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:32:00 GMT

Summer is drawing to a close and many bloggers took the opportunity to grab this long weekend to get out of dodge

Babble's own Jane Roper braved family camp with husband and twinkies in tow
Momish had a final long weekend plan, but took a trip to the ER instead
Petroville looks forward to Fall
Cranky Fitness shares reflections on work and play

Way up here in the Northwest corner of Washington State, we're ironing uniforms and packing lunches for the first day of Kindergarten. You? What are you up to today?

(Photo courtesy of The Smitten Image)

Strollerderby Playdate: Take Baby Out to the Ballgame

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:12:00 GMT

For just about everyone else in the country, the coming of fall means the coming of baseball -- playoff baseball, the best time of the year. I desperately looked forward to the possibility of bringing Emmeline to a baseball game when her team, er, my team was in the hunt for the World Series.

I have such fond memories of watching the playoff races with my family -- and even my grandparents -- that I couldn't wait to one day do the same with my daughter.

But I root for the Giants. And this year, they suck. Big time. Not even steroids can help them.

Still, it's good to see at least some people enjoying the nice weather and the ballpark with the kids. We'll be there today -- and yeah, I'll have hot dogs and beer, and I'll give Emme her first taste of garlic fries. And though I know we'll have a great time just being together, I also hope they'll win one for her.

I'm not the only one with baseball on the mind these days.

Training Loving Hearts didn't go to the game, but at least watched on TV -- and peed in the night.

Melissa of "I seriously have to deal with nine months of this?" vows to take her boy, if she has one, to the ballpark. Well ... take a girl too damn it!

Strollerderby Playdate: Dislocated Dad

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:06:00 GMT

I'll admit it. Wakeboarding is not my cup of tea. My shoulder, which is still floating somewhere on a calm lake in Northern Michigan, thinks so too. On the last day of our vacation, I decided to wakeboard -- which, simplified, is basically Satan's form of recreation.

I strapped a board to my feet, grabbed a rope and watched as a speed boat barreled through the water, pulling my shoulder out of its socket. Thankfully, my frantic gasps for air snapped it back into place. Lucky me.

Of course, I'm not the only one coping with a malady. At least this one's not mental.

Tracy at Outside didn't pass out when they popped her shoulder into place, but yeah, I bet she was close.

Stacer makes my shoulder look like a granite slab carved by Michaelangelo. I feel better already.

Amber's kid fell off the bus and spent a sad party nursing a, wait for it, dislocated shoulder. Now I feel bad for complaining at all. Poor guy.

This isn't a shoulder, but it's close enough. Besides, the cute-as-hell boy of my wife's all-time favorite blogger -- Shim and Sons -- sports the best sling ever made.

[Before my shoulder fell off, I honestly envisioned performing the above-pictured trick.]

Strollerderby Playdate: More Crafyliciousness

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:02:00 GMT

You know you want it. With all your free time and energy and creativity that's been left untapped after you've spent all morning singing Barney's greatest hits and trying to figure out ways your kids can turn the contents of your wallet into some kinds of educational toy while you have an adult conversation with the teenager behind the counter at Starbucks. Here's a few bits plucked out of the blogo to give you the inspiration you need (the babysitter and fabric glue are not included):

Scrapgasm is just the right mix of sessiness and scrapiness. How could you not love that?! If I weren't so lazy, I would totally get this challenge going.

DIY Life's done all the work while we sit around and ooh and ahh. Their ten best craft sites is sure to inspire, or at least glance in the direction of your hole punches and rolls of ribbon and think about one day maybe using them again when the kids have finally left for prom and the house is quiet for more than four minutes at a time.

Scrappy Sketches and Ideas by Shanna reveals the mystery behind making beautiful books full of family memories (as opposed to stuffing them in a box that you shove in the closet to deal with after...yup...prom).

Adam Knits hats for his dogs and intersperses yarn talk with tequila quotes. I kid you not.

If you're not feeling like the glitterati yourself, you can always stop by Crafty Mama Creations to drool (I love these purses so much, I'd almost be willing to put a few PullUps and a paci in them if I could have one).

And let us not forget our own needle maven Mike, who makes stuff like this, wielding a machine like no other man we've seen (be careful with our hearts, man).

Strollerderby Finishline: Free Stuff Edition

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:08:00 GMT

I get it. I do. It was late on a Friday and you were looking forward to getting home. To the weekend. To drinks. Whatever. You had no time for the SD. Fine. Be that way. But you're missing out, lemmie tell ya.

It's Saturday now, and thankfully you have another chance. You just better hurry if you want to make it right.

That's right -- the very first SD contest is underway and you have until Monday to be a part of history, and to snag a really cool Arctic Tale T-shirt. (Imagine March of the Penguins, but with better animals.) Stefania fills you in on the deets here. The prize isn't as cool as a hunky lumberjack -- or so I've heard -- but I think you'll still love it.

And speaking of cool prizes ... how about a great job opportunity, so long as you don't get preggers. Jessica shares the outrage. And also has a thing for Muppets.

Sarah is probably going to hell for this. But at least she'll already know one member of the band.

Dutch kids are happy, according to Alisyn. And if you look at this picture, you'll find they're also a little handsy.

Pierre gives the low-down on summer school breaks. As a kid, you crave them. As an adult, year-round baby!

Oh, look! I'm dense!

Chag wonders: Ban the product or ban the advertising? What will thin out the thick ones?

Karen pulls a graceful piece out of the death of Lady Bird.

Kelly knows she will someday have mommy-alone time for all those bikini waxes and creepy pictures. Oh, and this is really, really cool too -- way to go!

Patti answers the mac-and-cheese question. But did she have to say soygurt?

To camp or not to camp -- Rachael answers the question.

Melissa is a savior -- a baby shower without games. (I've invented my fair share, so I know they suck it, even if I've never actually played them.)

Strollerderby Playdate: "Simpsons" Movie Unites Parents Everywhere

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:01:00 GMT

For the past seven hours -- or however long it's been since I tuned in to her recent and incessant natterings -- my wife has been strutting around the house singing, "Spider pig, spider pig -- does whatever a spider pig does."

I knew it could only mean one thing. She had seen the new trailer for the "Simpsons" movie, and she would soon be dragging me to the theater to watch it. You may remember I wasn't too thrilled about the movie initially -- saying, essentially, that the show hasn't lived up in recent years to the early episodes that played across my childhood. (Yes, the show has been on for almost 20 years. Yikes.)

But after seeing the trailer and watching the excitement in my wife's eyes as she yammered on and on about some elusive porcine-arachnid supercreature or whatever, I have to admit the show of my childhood, the one that had faded in glory but still drew me in occasionally to re-runs, has me very, very excited again.

And I'm not the only one. People everywhere are making Date Night plans to see the movie and relive a little of their past. Well, some of us are anyway.

Modest Micah has a cool cartoon photo.

Unleash the Epiphany is also going yellow.

And here, if you must see it, is the trailer that has sent my wife over the edge. Seriously, every time she sees it she laughs for a solid minute -- big laughs. Belly laughs. Followed by "Spider pig, spider pig ..."

Strollerderby Playdate: Stuff Every Parent Needs to Know

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:02:00 GMT

We all need a little help now and again. And we all know that, unless we want to make adorable little kitty cupcakes for a birthday party, parenting magazines aren't doing a very good job in helping us find our way. What better way to find out the how-tos than from other parents doing it just like we are every single day. Here are a few tips from the mamas and the papas (the blogging kind, not the singing kind) for today's DIYing:

How to chill a hot beer or soda in 3 minutes. And if you must know, this also works wonders with bottles of wine.

How to make some mean oven-fried chicken fingers. You know, to keep the kids occupied while you guzzle the bevo.

How to avoid the standard mama van. Or, how to give up the (gulp) car altogether.

How to successfully camp with kids. That is, all digits and sanity points are in tact when exiting the forested area.

How to curse the evil thieves of your child's precious woobie.

And when you must, how to mourn the loss of a woobie and celebrate the life of a brand new Woobie 2.

Strollerderby Playdate: Say Cheese, Cheesies!

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:03:00 GMT

Enough talking, people! Time to get out those brag books, piles of vacay pics you just got back from Costco and the holding room for your photos also known as your digital camera with the ginormous memory card. Let's take a break from all the blah-blah-babble and just enjoy some visuals from our favorite blogs, shall we?

Karen at Chookooloonks makes me want to dig the camera out from the bottom of the diaper bag. Or take a photography class. Or maybe just move in with her beautiful family. Say awww over this perfect pic of happy hour at her house and then drool over this gift her hub (get this) MADE for her as an anniversary gift. Sigh. See what I mean about moving in?

RachelleB's people watching at Coney Island. Come on...you know you wanna look. This is real, live, summery carnie kind of stuff. I love it.

Sarah at Bloggynoodle is a braver mama than I. This picture's the proof.

Oh, our own Catherine of Her Bad Mother, we adore you so with your clever wit and rightful anger. Perhaps this post and photo will inspire the rest of us to blog our own birds.

Susiej's documenting the breakfast her boy made all by himself. Gobble up the glorious anti-foodiness of it all.

And finally, in the scrumptious baby belly category, please find Kimberly from the Gav Menagerie and her summer-loving, hose-spraying, cheek-nibbleable kids getting a perfect taste of summer.

Strollerderby Playdate: Bye, Bye Lorelai

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 09 May 2007 11:01:00 GMT

In case you're wondering -- yes, this week is all about the "Gilmore Girls" At least for me anyway. Who knows? I may even live-blog the final episode of the best parenting TV show ever next Tuesday. We'll see ...

Until then, I'll content myself with the knowledge that there are people out there taking the whole "last episodes" thing a lot worse than I am. But for the record, Lorelai keeping her mouth shut and letting her grown daughter make her own decisions last night? What's not to love? See above, please -- best. show. ever.

Don't believe me? Think I'm reading a little too much into Rory refusing an engagement and becoming, in so many ways, like her mother? Keep reading ...

State of Serenit is "irrationally sad" over the whole thing. I can relate.

Just a Small Town Girl is in tears ... almost. At least she will be. She promises.

Television Love wants the fantasy and the reality -- a strong daughter taking after her mother and also getting the guy. Don't we all? You know what I mean.

Monday Kisses goes on a rant and weeps. I don't agree with the conclusion, but I'm an addict, too. I can't wait for next week.

Strollerderby Playdate: Homebirth/Midwife Edition

Alisyn — Mon, 07 May 2007 11:03:00 GMT

From Rikki Lake, to this video, to a new law in Wisconsin, home birthing and midwifery are all over Babble and Strollerderby. It's got me reminiscing...

When I got pregnant with my older daughter, my husband (then fiance) and I were still living with Brandy, world's best roommate and midwife-in-training. Brandy was a wealth of resources on everything from home birth, to water birth, to labor coaching, to pregnancy in general. Ultimately, I chose a hospital birth, with an epidural about 10 hours into it - thank god - but I was well-informed enough to know how to speak my mind and take charge of my birth experience, thanks to the information and support that Brandy provided me with. I wish everyone could have their own Brandy (hey - if you live in Ashland, OR, and are pregnant, you can! Email me!) - but since not everyone can, these home birth and midwife blogs will substitute nicely.