Home Again, Home Again -- New Year Ahead

Home again, home again...

It is December 27th, and I am trying to come up with something profound and thought-provoking, optimistic and reassuring for the New Year. Only 4 days to go, and 467 words for this year-ending missive.

Another brand-new year, 2012...so many challenges, so many new possibilities: where to start? I almost wish we were moving – I like to move – the chance to re-organize, deep-clean and de-clutter. But we’re not, and that’s okay, too. There are plenty of good things about NOT moving, like loving our location and community, stability, not having to go through all those address changes for utilities, driver’s licenses, schools, checks, address labels, etc. I like where we are, I just wish we could re-organize, deep clean and de-clutter, get rid of the old big-screen TV (who knew it would be so hard to get rid of what was, a decade ago, the latest in modern technology and home entertainment – and now doesn’t work anymore?!) and buy a new couch.

Since we knew we were not moving this year (our lease was up, we extended), and with our oldest kid a senior in high school next year, knowing we will be losing him so soon to college and beyond, we decided to Go BIG this year for Christmas. Instead of presents and all the usual routine, we took the kids on a fabulous Road Trip & Caribbean Cruise Adventure. We were gone nine days (six onboard) and it was amazing. I can’t write about that, yet, though, in case the major women’s magazine to which I pitched the article responds affirmatively (fingers crossed, everybody!). So...

I can’t think of any New Year’s Resolutions, either. Well, other than to land another article in a major magazine, I’d like to get back to that. And to update and revitalize The Rebel Housewife – it’s definitely time, but that is so overwhelming, I don’t even know where to start. With the 10th Anniversary of the Rebel Blog & Rebel Reviews coming up this year, I feel like a dinosaur. Apparently, I need to make the move to Wordpress! Update my logo design! Figure out what to do with all those archives! Develop my Facebook presence – make a landing page! Twitter! Google+! LinkedIn!

Arrrggghhhh! I just did figure out how to add pictures to my blog posts – and how to announce the updates on Facebook & Twitter – let's celebrate!

As I work my way through the post-vacation laundry, trying to get everything put away, I have decided to clean out my closet, which is certainly a resolution-worthy intention. If only it were as easy as cleaning out my email inboxes, which I did earlier today: from hundreds of messages to about a dozen. The To Do List is calling, including two new Rebel Reviews to close out the year. Perhaps I will come up with another couple of New Year’s Resolutions in that mess...or maybe not.

Happy New Year --
Live, Love & Laugh in 2012!

www.facebook.com/TheRebelHousewife

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

...or is it?!

I'm trying, I really am -- and this will not be one of those whining, complaining blog posts about how hard the Holidays are on Mom; how there's never enough time or money or magic; how everybody's either looking for donations, cash, checks, party contributions or time on your oh-so-limited calendar...

No, let's not go there.



The Holidays can be, and usually are, stressful, but there's also an awful lot of good stuff. I can come up with 10 Things to Be Excited About, I know I can:

1. The Magic kids still believe in: My older kids, now almost-15 and 12, want to force a confession about Santa, in no small part to "educate" their younger 9-year-old brother. I keep the discussion limited: "If you don't believe in the Magic, the Magic won't believe in you...and THE MAGIC can't leave you a really great gift under the tree or a stocking full of goodies!" (It works!)
2. Christmas Lists! If my children do no other creative writing all year, I can count on them for something truly entertaining and wonderful on the "Come-on Santa, Bring It All and Make My Miserable Life Complete Request List." Want to see an example? 9yo Boy's Wish List
3. The Giving: Not so much the shopping, but the thinking, the planning, the scheming to surprise and delight, the giving is wonderful, especially when you find Just The Right Thing, big or small, for someone special.
4. Gingerbread Cookies! An annual tradition in the Rebel Household, we make armies and armies of decorated Gingerbread Men for holiday parties, school friends, teacher gifts and neighbors...
5. Cold Weather & Snuggling
6. Winter Break - sleeping in and NO HOMEWORK!
7. Christmas Cards - love to receive, even the letters.
8. Decorations & Light Displays - another annual tradition, the Christmas Drive-Around to see all the lights and displays. We drive far and wide, to professional displays (around Atlanta: Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier Islands, Calloway Gardens) and to see everything at homes & businesses in-between. With a Thermos of hot chocolate, a to go box of gingerbread men and holiday music on the car stereo (now XM Radio Channel #23 - Holly) and we are set for several evenings of family entertainment.
9. Christmas Music - all of it, from classical to elevator renditions to The Chipmunks!
10. Christmas Classics - TV Shows & Books

That's it. It's nice to keep it simple. Of course, there is Christmas Morning and the children's delight (hopefully) over their holiday haul; visiting friends & family and oh, yes, the holiday eating...

It is beginning to look -- and feel -- a lot like Christmas...
I'm on it!

9-Year-Old's Wish List (BOY)

[Note: This is a boy who LOVES technology and has an older brother and sister to expose him to the finer and more expensive things in life - note the absence of Legos or Star Wars or games & toys targeted and marketed to this age group...Still, it's a fine example of a Christmas Wish List, verbatim!]

9yo BOY's Wish List

1. $$$!
2. Premium Membership on Webs.com (Enhanced Premium)
3. $50 iTunes Money
4. My Own Macbook Air
5. My Own Phone
6. RC Helicopter
7. RC Car
8. Nerf Gun
9. PIZZA!!!!!
10. ROOT BEER!!!!!
11. The Schools Getting Rid of Homework 4 Good.
12. More Money!!!
13. A Perfect Christmas Tree
14. More Subscribers on My Website
15. The Mind Flex
16. Outrageous Builders Club on ROBLOX
17. A bigger allowance
18. A pet Golden Retriever
19. A successful ROBLOX game
20. My own DSi
21. An awesome Christmas
22. An iPod Touch 3G
23. More Webs.com Credits
24. Advertisements for My Website
25. A Go-Kart
26. Ideas for my next year's Wish List
27. XBOX 360
28. My sister's and my meter ideas for my own [iPhone] App.
    [See Mom & Dad's Luv Meter FREE iPhone App at: www.LuvShaker.com]

New Rebel Review Posted

Happy Birthday to ME, Happy Birthday to ME...

Yes, it is THAT time again. I suddenly find myself FORTY-TWO (42) YEARS OLD. Wow.
And the really surprising thing is...it has been a great day, after a wonderful long weekend birthday getaway with my hubby to Florida. By all indications so far, 42 is going to be a fabulous year. It's also the number of my current-favorite NASCAR driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, AND the Secret of the Universe, right? (According to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.)

With all the excitement of the long weekend, I didn't expect much today -- I was looking forward to two hours in the Media Center at 9yo ADHD Phenom's elementary school! -- but everybody surprised me, in small ways throughout the day: with a candle taped to my coffee cup; birthday cards, greetings, emails and tweets; several very well-chosen, very cool gifts (Thank You!!!) and a wonderful Japanese Hibachi meal performed at the table in front of us at Nakato Japanese Steakhouse in Atlanta. The kids were really good at the restaurant and didn't fight or torment each other (or us!), too much.

Somewhere in all of that -- actually, before all of that, for the most part -- I decided to indulge myself a little bit today with a few goodies from my new-favorite online boutique: PeaceLoveMom. Check out the Rebel Review and see what could be all the rage (and perfect!) in gifts for Mom this year.

Because, you know, with my birthday today...'tis officially the Season and Christmas will be here before you know it!

PeaceLoveMom.com - Great Gifts For Mom

Father's Day: June 21, 2009

Father's Day: Sunday, June 21, 2009 - are you ready?!

Check out 18 unique gifts for Father's Day in The Rebel Housewife Stop & Shop.

The Rebel Housewife & Amazon.com make it easy to find gifts that dads really want...at great prices. You'll find gift ideas for the Techie Dad, the Do-It-Yourself Dad, the Active Dad, the Hungry Dad, even the Remote-Holding Dad. There are hammocks to help Dad relax; tools to help him be The Grill King; and ideas for stocking his Man Cave (BeerTender, anyone?).