HOLLY RESNICK

His hands...

2010-09-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

I miss his hands. I miss everything, but lately, I’ve been thinking about Scott’s hands. Beautifully scarred and rough. They always felt strong and sure when he held mine. Those hands literally built cars and planes, and fixed any and every broken thing he could find for 39 years. He had marks and scars everywhere, most from his youth, but some he added while I knew him. One of his fingers, I think it was his ring finger, bent the wrong way. I can’t remember why. Maybe some sport injury or jam that happened years ago, or maybe it was just… Scott.

For years, those hands came home with grease and grime under them, and though he would scrub and wash, they would never fully get clean. Honestly, I never minded. Those hardworking hands supported our family of 2, 3, 4, 5, and then 6, never complaining about the scratches, cuts, burns, or pinches they endured as an airplane mechanic. They worked hard, every single day, and they came home weary but ready for more.

And then, there were the 12 years his hands held, loved and guided our babies: cradling, brushing little girl hair, teaching our boys to build model planes, holding hands while crossing the street, waving and clapping while they sang in the Christmas concert. So much love, so much care given through those rough, mechanic

hands as if they turned to butter when the kids were near them.

I miss how he always knew where we were going, because I rarely did. He would hold out his hand and wait for mine, and I would just place it inside and walk. He knew, and I trusted. I didn’t even need to know the plan or have directions, I just needed to hold on. I miss that, not worrying about where to go, being led.

I see glimpses of Scott’s hands now in my boys as they get bigger. They have the same gift of working with them that their dad did. I pray they will use them in the same loving, wise and strong ways Scott did.

There is no touch, no clasp or embrace that will ever compare to those hands.

I LOVE BEING A GIRL!

2010-05-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

I love being a girl! I really do. Maybe it’s spring on the way, but I just wanna gush about it for a minute. I love dresses, shoes, make-up, playing with new hairstyles, and all things foofy-girlie!

Like most girls, I definitely went through a “tomboy” stage when I was younger. Instead of Barbie dolls, I played with “army men” and built go-carts that I tested out on top of the steepest hills in the neighborhood. My best friend was a boy named James who shot me in the eye with a bee-bee gun because I dared him to, and I would gag at the thought of wearing anything with ruffles. Even now, I have times when I just want to wear a t-shirt and jeans. Only the t-shirt might look like it was attacked by the Be-Dazzler, and the jeans carry a substantial amount of butt-bling on the pockets as well. It’s just too hard not to sparkle when you have permission!

Now, I know what most of you are thinking: There are definitely some notable cons. Many, if we really sat down to think about it. Speaking of sitting down: I do wish we girls had an easier time going to the bathroom when we camp. And, I guess that feeling of vulnerability when you’re on a city street late at night isn’t my favorite either. Of course there’s that awful time of the month that turns us into crazed chocolate-hunting, self-loathing she-beasts! Yes, yes, many cons if we must point them out. However, all of those are trifle compared to the rush brought on by a new pair of strappy sandals and that feeling you get when you come out of the beauty salon with some screaming fresh red! Ah! I love that! Oh, and let’s not forget the power of that magic dress that hugs and hides in all the right places and makes you feel like a feminine super hero. Wearing that dress makes all the cons fade away into a cloud of pixie dust trailing behind you as you saunter around in your open-toed greatness!

Ok, and yes, there are many deep, spiritual, and motherly reasons to be grateful to be female as well, blah, blah, blah…. I am not totally superficial, I do appreciate the ability to carry a human being (or 4) inside my body and give them passage into life. That is super cool. And there’s the kisses that heal boo-boos, the shoulders that harbor rivers of tears, and the gentle soft skin that nurtures even with the slightest touch. All great reasons as well. (Have I mentioned the shoes?)

No matter how old you are, what dress size you wear, or how many kids you have, I recommend you celebrate that girl inside you, ladies! Twirl in your skirts and bat your eyelashes! You know why? Cause you can, and it’s fun! And I for one, am not ashamed to say that I love it!

Floss Or Die

2010-02-27T11:12:00.001-08:00

I have a confession. I am certain that I am not alone in this admission of guilt and that is why I feel safe enough to share it.

I hate flossing. I really am talking complete disdain. I try and justify not flossing to myself with these statements (not spoken aloud for the most part…)

I’m too tired.
I will floss in the morning.
What’s it gonna matter if I miss ONE night?!

Ok. Here’s the part where I become a total hypocrite. I am a flossing Nazi when it comes to my kids! I am militant about them flossing. Why? Because I want them to have healthy teeth that will last them a lifetime. I don’t want them to have any dental problems what-so-ever. Why? Because I have had issues with teeth that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Why? Because of not flossing.

Can you see the tangled web of insanity?

Let’s just tackle my 3 excuses.

“I’m too tired.” – Yes. This is true. I believe moms live in a constant state of “I’m tired.” But here’s the thing: I will spend a good 40 minutes on caring for my face, because God forbid I get a wrinkle or a blemish. Masks, scrubs, toners, eye creams, anti-aging whatever, right?! By the time I finish my skin care routine, It’s almost morning. So, why then, can’t I embrace another 2 minutes to floss the things that not only have great purpose in my life, but are probably one of the first things people notice when they meet you. Teeth, baby. Teeth are important.
“I will floss in the morning.” – No I won’t. I know it. You know it. It’s a morsel of deceit I’m trying to feed myself. Kind of like setting my clock ahead so that I’m not late. Yeah. Still late.
“What’s it gonna matter if I miss ONE night?!” – Ok, so, on the times when I DO floss….stuff is found. Like…food. Gross. Basically, that food that would be fished out by flossing at night is still there in the morning. There is not a fairy to take that away. And…let’s be painfully honest, rotten food smells. That makes me gag.

As most of my blogs go, I have no real point. No moral of the story. No words of wisdom. All those things are left up to the reader. I am merely on a transparent journey of self-discovery and growth.

(Subliminal message: FLOSS OR DIE!)

Have a nice day.

Would You?

2009-10-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was faced with the opportunity to help someone in need or.... not.

Now, it seems that there would be no choice to make, right? Help. Of course! Lend a hand. Do a good deed. Pat yourself on the back.

But what if you had to get messy? What if it meant you would suffer? What if you had to take on the embarrassment and judgment for the person in need? Would you still do it?

Ok, and what if you had an out? You had a valid reason or excuse that would dismiss you from the obligation. You could just walk away and let someone else get their hands dirty.

The epiphany for me was this: It's not about my choice at all. It's not about me. It's about the person who has the need. The person. Not even the need is important, the person is.

When you are the person who is in that position (and I have been) nothing else matters but the help provided. Not the excuses or reasons, not even the person doing the helping. All that matters in those moments is relief.

I guess what I'm saying is this: If it's not me, who's gonna do it? While I'm busy deciding, a person is waiting for SOMEONE to step up.

Would you?

A Business With Heart

2009-07-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

Bassitt Auto Co. is this cute auto shop up the street from our house. You can’t miss it! It has a huge picture of a basset hound with a wrench in his mouth. It’s adorable and inviting from the road. Inside is even more spectacular. It looks like an old-fashioned “soda- fountain.” In fact, you can actually get something to drink from your “soda jerk” behind the counter while you wait for your car. The atmosphere is so fun and attractive, you just want to stay and hang out. It’s certainly not your typical auto shop!

Scott used to take our cars there. Those who knew Scott knew he would NEVER buy a new car. Not only did he consider this an insanely poor investment, he thought it was no fun at all. “Cars need work” he would say. And boy, throughout our years together, the Resnick cars certainly did. Scott’s mustang (s) were always in need of this or that. I remember dropping Scott or a car off at Bassitt many times. Scott believed they were a great company, honest, friendly, trustworthy and very knowledgeable.

No, this isn’t a plug for your car service needs. This is a story about a different kind of need, and a local business that rose above and beyond the call of duty.

After Scott passed, Craig Bassitt contacted us to ask if he could do something for our family. He remembers Scott and considered him not just a customer, but “part of their family.” He felt a calling to do something for the kids and I to show their support and care.

On Friday, they picked the kids and I up in their company limo. It was the children’s first time ever in one, and they freaked out! We actually used to pass this very vehicle all the time and Scott would tell Kiel, “When you turn 16, this is our next car. Mommy and I will hang out in the back and you can drive us around in style.” You know, I actually think he might have been serious!

We loaded up into the limousine, and Craig drove us to Red Robin (the kids favorite) and bought us all dinner. We sat, chatted, laughed, and ate until we were stuffed.

Our next destination was across town to a house in SE that had a litter of basset hound puppies. These dogs were the most adorable little things we’d ever seen! The kids were in HEAVEN! They snuggled and played with the puppies until they almost burst. But that wasn’t all…

You see, Craig had a professional photographer there to get pictures of the kids with the puppies. Not just for me to savor, but to put on the cover of a magazine they advertise in. They want the add to be more of an article on Scott’s legacy through his children. Again, not just a customer, but part of the family.

Bassitt Auto is also hosting their 5th annual “Cruise In” on August 14th. Craig wants to offer the proceeds from the event to our family for the children’s education.

I am overwhelmed by the true goodness of people… The love of our fellow man… The amazing way that a stranger becomes a cherished friend in an instant.

Thank you, Craig and Bassitt family, for a night we will never forget!

A Waste Of Time

2009-07-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

June 18, 2009

Thought today about how most women I know (including myself!) pick themselves apart in some way or another. We complain about our weight, our hair, our skin, our bums, our lack of this or our abundance of that. We just never seem to give ourselves a break.

In a small moment of clarity this morning, I recognized how ungrateful that is. Our bodies are incredible gifts that do amazing things. For those of us that are moms, you know just how unbelievable your body can be when called to the test! We are strong, capable and courageous creatures by design.

I also decided that it was a waste of time. “Waste” being the key word. To spend time criticizing that fabulous gift instead of using and appreciating it is simply wasteful.

Like it or not, we are also the “super models” for our children. As my daughters get older, I am more and more aware of how my own body image affects theirs. Pretty high stakes!

So for today, (and hopefully all the days that follow) I am committed to love myself: mind, soul and yes, BODY. I hope you will join me!

Reliving the Glory Days

2009-02-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

I recently joined a co-ed volleyball league. Ok.. I just have to say it: I have a passion people...beyond singing, beyond making babies, I......love........volleyball. This is a picture of me in high school, I'm number 2. No comments about the hair or size of my rear.

Now..I've been out of the whole "team sports" thing for a long time. College....to be exact. BUT...I have never lost my love, lust, passion for competitive volleyball!

A friend from church approached me awhile back and asked if I wanted to be on his team. I said:

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! And here I am. On an awesome team of really good players, playing every week, making plays, catching the angles to dig the hits, serving, etc. I am LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT!

Ok..the best part? No...not that my husband is on the team with me (sorry, honey)...NO... the best part is that my BEST FRIEND from high school is on the team with me. (check out that picture above once again...she's #1 right beside me!) This girl was once a mighty Blue Jay with me at old Lu-Hi, and now we are back on the court together again. That...my friends... is SO COOL! It's like dejavu. To look across the court at my best friend from high school, several (don't make me count) years later.... totally a trip!

We play every Sunday afternoon, and it's not nearly enough. Our team is currently ranked 5th.....a ranking we WILL change....Yes...we will take the championship! We will!!!

I think I'm a little beyond into this. I need therapy.

Dodge Ball!

2008-11-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I got to play dodge ball while I shot a story with Recess Time Sports. Ok, I have to say....it was SO MUCH FUN!

Honestly, when I first got there, my heart was racing and my stomach truly started to hurt because it looked SO intense! Some people REALLY got into it.....they were hysterical. Those little red balls were flying by at heat seaking missle speed, and people were getting NAILED!

For a moment I thought to myself, "Uh...I'll just be the narrator on this one. More reporter style..." But the Ligers were short a player for their 8:35pm game and I had already volunteered. I was going in!

Turns out, the hand-eye coordination thing is not as easy as it looks. I discovered, to my softball playin' shame, that I am not the best thrower. I had very little control on direction, and my throws turned out to be more of a "toss" than a fiery dart. Throwing was definately a skill that the boys had down a bit better than the girls. No fair that their big man-hands could palm it. However, some of the girls were the best catchers. So...."neener."

I managed to catch one guy out, and throw one guy out. Both great moments, (thank you Brian!) were caught on tape and you can see by clicking here:

HOLLY PLAYS DODGEBALL WITH RECESS TIME SPORTS

You definately get a great workout... Mucho cardio and quite the adrenaline rush! But what I loved most about playing this "sport" was the fun of being on a team again. Team sports seem to be a thing of the past in most of our lives, but that is a shame that should be remedied.

Dodge and weave, people....

Holly

Country Escape!

2008-10-10T08:37:00.001-07:00

Hey, check out the link to the segments we did for Sears Kenmore in CT! This is Marni and I with the production crew on the day we wrapped!

It was SO beautiful up there. We kayaked, went wine tasting, antiquing, and generally had an amazing time. All in a day's work!

See, even Seth was happy!

Ok, so to watch the stories, go to:

Better - Country Escape

Also, we did a photo shoot that will be in BHG, and is also on the Kenmore website:

See the pics and enter the contest!

Seriously, give it a shot! They are giving away an escape to the very place we shot these! So, check out the stories and enter to win! How cool would it be if one of my peeps won this?! Oh yeah!

Best Friends!

2008-09-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

As my daughters grow up, it's been fun/scary to watch them find and develop friendships over the years. My girls are at the ages now when I remember forming important, critical relationships that made life and the turbulent school years bearable. Grade school, junior high, and high school were the choppy seas that threatened to rip us all to sheds. Our friends were the anchors that kept us steady through it all. Those relationships helped us feel "normal," loved, safe.

The "BEST" title was reserved for the friend who won your heart over all the rest. She could be trusted with your deepest secrets. She would stand up for you no matter what, and she would rather look stupid and be the butt of a joke than betray you or let you suffer humiliation alone. She was...... the BEST!

I've had many friends over the years. Here are a list of the ones who achieved "BEST" status. I only hope my girls (and boys) find friends as wonderful as these people were to me!

1. Grade school: Kristi Schwerin. She was funny, kind, REALLY smart, and loyal. She could draw frogs really well, and played me a song on a 45 record (yes, I'm that old) called "Dead Skunk In the Middle Of The Road" that made me laugh until my stomach hurt! She used to walk to my house in the mornings so I could curl her hair before school. We kind of drifted apart once junior high hit... 1. Because she was REALLY smart, and I was more interested in boys and being popular....and 2. I moved away in the 8th grade. Where ever you are Kristi, I LOVE YOU! You were a WONDERFUL friend!

2. Junior high: Shelby Braughtigam. Shelby had the BEST sense of humor. She loved to make jokes about "fluffers"... (use your imagination) She had this yappy scottie dog named "Tiesha" that stunk. I never told her this, but I didn't like Tiesha. Shelby's big brother, Rob, was totally cute and I had an ENORMOUS crush on him.....But the best part about Shelby was that she loved to sing as much as I did, and we sang together ALL the time. We tried to keep in touch after I moved back to Oregon, but fell away as the years went on. When she got engaged many years later, though, she found me and asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. It was an honor to stand by her side and be apart of her future. She was such a huge part of my past! I LOVE YOU, SHELB! Miss you!

3. High school: Jennifer Wolbrecht. I began my freshman year at Lutheran High School in Portland. Small school....private.....scary at first. Jennifer was one of my first friends. She was (IS) this gorgeous blond, leggy, tan, BOMBSHELL. I was kind of in awe of her from the start. We became friends our freshman year, and our friendship grew over time..... By senior year, she was more like a sister than a friend. I loved her like family...only better. Jen was funny (a theme in my friends) and silly. She was SO SMART! In fact.... her academic brilliance inspired me to do better in my studies and I pulled my grades up because I didn't want to embarrass myself around my "smart friends." It was peer pressure in a possitive way. Jen was the MVP in every sport she played, and we got to play volleyball and softball together which was extremely fun!The summer before our senior year, Jen's mom was hit by a car and died. I have never been more devastated by a death in my whole life...to this day. The sorrow I felt for my friend was overwhelming. Our senior year was typical in many ways, but the depth of my love for her and our friendship was beyond "high school" or anything I had experienced.

Jen and I live within 15 minutes of each other and promise to get together often. With kids, career and life....we've only had a few "playdates." But this friend will always hold the MVP title in my heart. High school was like war....and Jen was in the trenches with me making every bomb a little less devastating.

JEN! You're the bomb, Sistah! Love you...let's do lunch! Seriously!!!

4. Now: Erin Livingston. In my adult life, I have so many wonderful women who are all "bests"....but Erin is my soul sister. She reminded me what it was like to be a "girl" again. Having kids can make you lose that a bit. She helped me get my groove back! Erin is one of the most loyal, honest, loving women I've ever known. She makes me laugh and challenges me to be a better woman. Her faith inspires me....she doesn't just talk it, she lives it....and I can honestly say I need her in my life. I call her everytime I need the hard truth, and she gives it to me. That is a good friend. E...."you.....complete.....me."

Ok..those are my girls...my bests! Tell me a story of yours!!

First Day

2008-09-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

My youngest offspring started kindergarten this year. This means many things to me:

1. I'm old.

2. I want another baby...my womb is empty and I am very aware of it.

3. I get 2 1/2 hours, 4 days a week with no children on my hip for the first time in 11 years.

4. I have no excuses anymore. I have time to workout.

5. I might be able to get the laundry done...but that might be a little ambitious.

So, the day before shool started for Kelton....he was playing on his scooter in the street, and he totally bit it. Face first, over the handle bars....pitched himself onto the concrete. Here he is with frozen peas on his head to take down the goose egg.

Ok, NICE! Of course, like a good mom, I checked for a broken nose, concussion, etc....And when I saw that he was ok, all I could think of was: First day of school, my kid comes with a huge scrape on his forehead!!!! Perfect! With any luck, he will have healed by school pictures, for heaven's sake!!!!

Morning came, however, and he could care less. He was fired up and ready to hit the books. (Coloring books, that is.)

We had a slight "fuzzy" incident that took a few minutes of unplanned time right at the top.....a dandelion fuzzy floated into the building and Kelton was totally distracted, chasing it, completely lost in the moment. I thought we'd never get him back on track! Eventually we made it to his classroom, though, and his academic future began.

I was so excited for him, and scared all at the same time. He is, after all, my baby.

Here's to a great school year, Mommies! Grab some coffee and keep your hopes high!

Wait for it....

2008-08-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I headed out of town to NY and CT for work (more on that later when I get the pictures back!)

The actual "travel" there was a nightmare. In all my years, I have never had any problems when I flew. I've heard about them, especially in the movies ("Castaway" comes to mind...) But first hand, nothin'. No delayed flights, no cancellations...nada.

Well....that all changed last Saturday. I was stuck in Dulles... America's answer to the Bermuda triangle with a twist: "Dulles - where planes go to sit." I could go on and on about how stressful it was, how the airport was complete chaos, how we had to sit on the tarmac for 4 hours with no food/water.....but I won't.

You know why? Because as I was waiting in the 5 mile customer service line, surrounded by people complaining in every language, something beautiful happened. Just when I thought I might let out a wimper of defeat..........wait for it...........

I met Mike Rowe! You know, "Dirty Jobs" Mike Rowe?!! I gotta say...at my house, he's a hero. We watch his show and LOVE every disgusting minute. I read an aricle on him and his career once In Fast Company Magazine that totally inspired me. Believe it or not, in the midst of the poo and the slime, he has found his dream job! Isn't that what we all want? I'd love to find my own "Dirty Jobs" someday! Minus the dirty jobs, of course. Anyway, it's a brilliant article...definately worth hunting down. It looks a little somethin' like this:

So, back to the travel drama. We ended up getting on a stand by flight to JFK and drove to CT by town car. Since our luggage was not going to show up for another day, we asked our driver to find us a store that was actually opened at 2:30 in the morning. We stopped at a 24 hr grocery in Queens and asked for toothpaste and underwear. That....will be a blog all by itself.

My head finally hit a pillow at 4am. Our call time was at 7am. I was thankful for three things that day: 1. Strong coffee... 2. Under eye concealer... and 3. The little tickle in my tummy from meeting Mike Rowe!

The Twins

2008-08-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ok... I have something to admit. I was at the salon the other day...getting a few drops of red and a snip. Under the dryer, eyes closed, the woman next to me...a total stranger, says, "Do you want to see the twins?"

Now....Most people would ask..."Excuse me? What twins?" Possibly feeling a little confused at this question. But not me. Without a pause, I exclaimed (with unexpected and somewhat alarming glee) "YES! Thank you!!!"

She was talking about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's new twins. She had the latest People magazine with the first photos of the new twins. I (sadly) knew EXACTLY what she was offering and snatched the mag up like it was gold.

Ok, so, I only read these magazines A) When I'm standing in line at the grocery store, and then, it's only the cover page. B) When I'm taveling, I'll buy one in the airport store to read on my flight and C) When I'm getting my hair done.

Confession time.....I must admit....I love reading up on celebrity gossip. I know... it's sad and I should feel ashamed. I'll go a painful step further.... I actually felt a bit emotional when I saw the pictures of Maddox, Pax, Shiloh and Zahara with the new twins, Knox and Vivienne. YES! I KNOW ALL THEIR NAMES! Their family looked like a Benetton add. Remember those from the 90's? They had beautiful people from all different cultures laughing and playing together. Even pale redheads made the cut! Which I appreciated very much.

Angelina, however, looked like a tired new mommy. A look I know very well, and my heart went out to her. I know nothing valid, tangible or real about this woman or her family. No one really does. We only know what "journalist" write about them. What I do know......was that look. It was the look of a mom. That's real. No airbrushing could create that.

OK... mock me. Yell at me, shake me to my senses! Tell me I'm ridiculous! Tell me there are more important things to spend my time on! I can take it!

Seriously, though, you should see those pictues.......so cute!

5 Days!

2008-07-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

So, Scott (my hubby) is gone for 5 days. He's one of the leaders for our church's high school youth group and they are having their summer camp this week. It's called House Boat Camp, and it's one of the big highlights every summer for hundreds of high schoolers and a handful of brave adults who join to help run the camp. They literally play/live/sleep/eat and have a tone of fun on the water for 5 days straight!

Ok....now, about my own camp. I am also a "youth leader" and am trying SO hard to make the summer fun for our kids. I tend to be more on the sloth side of the scale, and add heat to the mix and I'm pretty much lethargic.

Anyhoo... My goal is to say "yes" more than "no" this summer and take them to do things that will keep them active so they won't fight and drive my lethargic behind one step beyond crazy.

So... here's how it's going so far:

Day #1 of Holly's Summer Camp of Fun and Folly:
The Farmers Market!
We haven't been to the Beaverton Farmers market for YEARS! We used to live right by it and we went all the time. Since we moved away....we don't really get over there anymore. So....I met my friend Kristin and her 3 kids there to "have some fun."

-Um, yeah.....there was a record breaking volume of whining, fighting, and general complaining in the first 45 minutes that had me wondering, "Why am I here again????" Not to mention that the heat was somewhere in the mid 90's....and that's just too hot for my people. The kids were melting and I was sweating more than I'd like to admit.

We settled in after about an hour. The whining slowed just enough for me to risk staying longer. The kids started having fun, playing in the fountain, giving me a chance to relax and think happy thoughts again. But it was definately touch and go there for a while.

OK....Day #2 of Holly's Summer Camp Fun and Folly
Dawson Park!
The kids have been trying to get me to visit this park forever. They have a man made lake with tons of fish and geese and such. So, after church, we went home for lunch, cleaned up, and headed for the park.

-Um, yeah....Kiel wanted to go fishing in the pond. Brought his tackle box and everything. I tried to explain that authorities generally frown on that sort of thing in public parks. Kelton was totally into throwing dirt clods in the lake and so, naturally, got a mess of dirt in his eyes as well. Ireland went to pull some of the reeds to throw in the lake, too, and of course, cut her finger and started bleeding all over the place. The park is right next to the library, so we went inside and cleaned the wound.

As we were walking around the perimeter of lake, we started to notice all the landmines. Yes...geese are quite regular creatures...Bordering on excessive poopers, one might say. We looked at one point like we were playing Dance Dance Revolution. Jumping about to avoid the goose poo.

Rounding the final corner to get back to the car, all 4 kids were complaining about the heat. "I can't take it anymore" was exclaimed, to which I could totally relate.

Driving home.....almost frantically trying to cool down. AC blaring...poo on the shoes....It's now 4'O clock and the "I'm hungry-ies" are starting. All I can think of is: "If I can just get home and lay down for 20 minutes"....when I hear, "What are we gonna do next?!"

Kids are insatiable. I am a slug. I only have 3 1/2 days left! God's speed, Scott, God's speed!

Love Your Neighbor

2008-07-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, our family went with a big group from the music department at our church to Vernonia. Vernonia was a town in Oregon that was hit by major flooding a year ago, and hasn't quite recovered.

One church there was basically destroyed by the floods and hasn't been "opened for business" since. We all went down to see what we could do to help and lend a hand.

All six Resnick peeps were on the painting team! We moved pews and water damaged items to the middle of the room, and painted the inside of this church, top to bottom.

I gotta tell ya...there is nothing like doing this kind of thing! Helping others is REALLY fun! Seriously! We painted all day, laughed, talked along the way and made a small difference in one church in one town. But it made a huge impact on our hearts. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday with my family!

Jay, our fearless leader, is hysterical. With him around, there is never a dull moment!

So many friends from church were there that I adore. By serving side by side, I have to say, I think they grew a little closer to my heart as a result.

One in particular: Joyce, our fabulous keyboard player/designer extraordinare, wins the "YOU ROCK" award for herding my kids all day and keeping them motivated and focussed on their project. They were in charge of painting all the children's Sunday school chairs. There is nothing more precious than that! I am so thankful to Joyce for showing my kids a great example of love and service. And, she made it possible for Scott and I to be useful inside. I think I owe her the going rate for babysitting.

All in all....we got a lot of work done, but there is still so much more to do! We definately made a dent. I think all of us would like to go back...see the project to completion. We feel connected and attached now. It was more than just a "work day."

The best thing for me....was seeing my whole family giving their Saturday to do something for someone else! Not because they're getting paid, or there is some big reward at the end. Just because someone needed us to. That was really cool!

(All these amazing pictures are by Elaine Heasley! You can see more awesome pictures from that day at: http://e-heasley.smugmug.com/gallery/5224058_nxRCm/1/317225661_Fp5NR#317368697_BwxCH )

Little Stinker!

2008-06-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ugh! I hate SKUNKS! I've never really given the little creatures much thought until we moved into this neighborhood 5 years ago. We call our neighborhood, "Skunk town." About every other day, you smell that oh-so-unpleasant odor. In the summer, it's absolute misery. Close the windows, fresh air can only be found in a Febreeze bottle.

So, for years, we just smelled them....or saw them dead on the side of the road.....but not now! No...now, they come up to our back door about every other night to eat our cat's food. Apparently, Friskies is for skunks, too, just in case you were wondering....

Like racoons, they have attitudes. I guess they've realized that we are terrified of them, and they have all the power. My lazy good for nothin' cats hide or head for higher ground....they sit up on the fence without moving a muscle.

The little stinkers kind of back up next to our back sliding door as if to say, "You want some of this!??"

Ok, so, clearly, I don't want to "scare" it because, obviously, when you "scare" a skunk, they go all hand-stand on ya. That's the point of regret.....there's no going back. So, I try sort of tapping on the glass...."Hey...um....go...away, ok?...... Would that be ok? If you kind of go away?"

Thing turns and looks at me, smirking.....turns back to eat. He's holding all the cards at this point.

Needless to say....the kids are NOT camping out in the backyard this summer!

UGH! I hate skunks!

Hyper Parenting - Under Pressure!

2008-06-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

Yo...loved this book:Under Pressure. Check out the video with the author, Carl Honore'.....I completely resonate with what he talks about....and highly recommend the read!

Seriously, I wish we could have shown the entire interview....good things to think about........but here ya go!

http://better.tv/bettertv/?cid=507869917&lid=647738100&tid=1581481283

Peace out, Mommas! Enjoy the journey!

Holly

Cool Moms!

2008-05-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Ok.... So our May "It Mom of the Month" in Portland is Tara Dublin from 94.7 Alternative Portland!

She was SO cool... and not just because she's the midday DJ for KNRK and plays rockin' music for the rest of us to listen to.....not just because she can talk a mile a minute and quickly think of clever things to say.... No, there's more to this groovy girl than meets the eye/ear. She is an oh-so-proud mommy of two boys! Tara wears the "I love being a mom" vibe all over her and her take on motherhood, life, music and the mixture of all these things was refreshing.

Tara has managed to find her dream job! Whenver that happens for anyone you just know it. They seem to radiate joy. The fit of her job and her boys' school schedule matches up perfectly. Yes, she is the picture of a mom who is thriving. Just listen to her and you will hear it. In the words of the brilliant Hannah Montana, she's got the "Best of both worlds!"

You can go to http://www.kptv.com/, click on Better Portland in the menu on the left and watch the video. Here's the link:

http://www.kptv.com/video/16437149/

You can also hear Tara every week day from 9-2pm on 94.7!

The best part of my job is meeting people like Tara! I love meeting cool moms!

Famous Relatives?

2008-05-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm curious... Who are you related to that is famous? Anyone have some fun family trees?

My only "claim to fame" is the founder and creative frontman for Pixar, John Lasseter. He's famous for movies like: Bugs Life, Toy Story, Cars, etc.... the films our kids LIVE on..you know......

I have never met him in person, (aparently he's a bit busy for family reunions....go figure.) His mom, my great Aunt Jewel, is the sister of my favorite relative (God rest her soul) Vena Wallis, my great grandmother. I have the most fond memories of her and her little shack of a house in Independence, Oregon. She made the best homeade pickles in the world, made dolls and doll clothes and she had the best sense of humor. Gosh...I miss her.

Jewel (John's mom) was the spitting image of my grandma. Every time I saw her, it was like looking at my Gram....it made me miss her so much, but stirred up all those fun memories from my childhood.

Anyhoo.....that's my famous relative story, and a little nostalgia to boot.

Who is yours???? And what's your story?

A reason to get up.....

2008-05-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is coming this weekend. Time to gush.

I can't believe how truly blessed I am to have these 4, amazing, incredible creatures to call my own. Each of them is so different, so unique, such a beautiful gift to me and to this world.

They make me laugh and sometimes cry, make me tired and then fill my cup with their endless energy. They stretch me and hold me together all at the same time. They....are my true calling and purpose in this life and I thank God for that privilege everyday.

I am a better person because of them and welcome each growing pain along the way to becoming the mom, the woman God wants me to be. It's a journey, sometimes resembling a rollecoaster ride, but I wouldn't sell my ticket for all the money in the world! It's the ride of a lifetime!

Though sometimes earlier than I would like, they are the best reason in the world to get up in the morning and face the day.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.....soak up the love!

For your viewing pleasure......

2008-04-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

I made a

YouTube - HollyResnick's Channel with a ton of segments from the show. You know, if you have a lot of free time and actually cared about what I do at "work." (Notice the tone of guilt and obligation......)

Just sayin'.....

Kids are so honest...

2008-04-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was cleaning the house (a likely story,) with my four-year old kind of following me around as I went. I was wearing some old sweats, a t-shirt that was a bit shorter than I would wear in public (I’m certain it shrunk in the dryer, and it wasn’t that I had grown in any way shape or form)…and some flip-flops. This is my typical “maid” uniform. Whatever works…I’m not going to win any beauty pageants or anything, right?

Ok, so I’m in the kitchen cleaning out the sink with Comet (plug for Comet) when I feel two little hands on the top of my waistband. With a swift tug, these little hands proceeded to hike up the material of my sweat pants to about naval level. I looked down, and Kelton (the culprit) had this serious look of determination. I said nothing and just watched as he went around my entire torso lifting every inch of fabric up to an appropriate height, even though I was receiving quite a wedgy by this time.

When he was satisfied that his work was done, trying not to laugh, I asked, “What’cha doin’ buddy?” He replied, “Fixing you.”

Apparently, he didn’t want to see any of that.

I’d like to think he was looking out for me, helping me be modest, for my best interest. But I think, he was just looking out for his.

Kids are so honest.

I Love Chicago!

2008-04-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

We shot the final footage for the Kitchen and Bath show special this last week. (Remember....the first two trips were to Las Vegas? See previous posts....) The actual trade show, KBIS, was held at McCormick Place in Chicago this year.

We shot there among the crowds and chaos. If you've never seen a "jib" in action... it's pretty impressive and always draws a crowd. "In cinematography, a jib is a boom device with a camera on one end, and a counterweight and camera controls on the other. It operates like a see-saw."(I got that from Wikipedia) Anyhoo......it looks really "fancy", like something big is going on. You can see a piece of the jib, right above Brian's head, pointing at me in this picture.

I headed out to Chi-town last Thursday and just got home last night. 4 Days of working and experiencing the windy city.

Now, overall, I really do love this city. It has so much incredible architecture and personality, and there is always something to do... it's like a smaller version on New York City. But one thing is for sure, it's flippin' cold and windy! So, I've made a list of pros and cons from my trip.

We'll start with the cons because there aren't as many as the pros.. ok?

1. I thought I was going to have to cut off some of my toes. We shot some tourism segments, kind of a "taste of chicago" type of deal on Saturday. Well, one of the things we did was the Shoreline cruises. Yeah...it was probably 20 degrees outside with wind that cut through my coat like a million little steak knives. On the way back from the boat, we had to run to our parking garage (about 10 blocks) and I was literally SCREAMING! "OH MY HEAD....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? AAAAHHHHHHHHH!" People of course, turned to look at me in disgust. I glance over, and this guy, a native, obviously, is jogging in shorts. What???!!!!!!

I went back to my hotel before our next location and soaked my feet for about 20 minutes in scalding hot water. I only lost one toe.

2. You can't get anywhere without public transit. We are so spoiled here in the Northwest. If we want to go somewhere...anythwere, we just....go. In Chicago, it's like a major ordeal to get anywhere! No one really owns a car, you have to take a cab, or the train, or some sort of mass transit. I realized how cheap I was as I was watching the meter in the cab jump quarter by quarter in the blink of an eye. I think it even moves when you're waiting for the light. I kept thinking, "I could just walk and save my money...." but then I remembered the wind would kill me, and I gladly paid my $45 bucks to go 7 blocks down the street.

3. Everybody squints. Again...that would be from the cold wind.... You rarely get a smile out of anyone because they are trying to overcome the elements and that takes facial concentration.

Ok..that's it for the cons, I don't want to dwell on the negative. Here's some pros.....

1. I love the people in Chicago! I met so many wonderful humans....each with their own stories and character and memorable accents! This is Alan Chow, he was our sound tech for the shoot. He regularly works on the Oprah show, as did our lighting guy....but I couldn't convince either of them to let me sneak into the studio with them. Whatever.

2. Every place we ate was spectacular! It seems that big cities really have a lot to offer when it comes to dining. The food we ate was amazing, and I probably weigh 12 lbs more as a result. Here's a couple names I'll shout out: Club Lago, Bin 36, Catch 35, Elephant and Castle, etc, etc, etc.... Me likey food, and they met my needs.

3. I got to see and briefly talk to (stalk would be a better word) Ty Pennington from Extreme Home Makeover. I told him how much my kids love him and that we all watch the show and cry our eyes out. (Well... I cry and the kids roll their eyes at me.) He was just as cute and sweet in person as he looks to be on the show. I didn't have my camera with me at the time, so Alan took a pic with his cell phone before Ty was rushed off by his "handler." (Note: I want a handler some day.)

4. I got to work with Jill Cordes again, who I absolutely love! She is so fun and awesome to hang out with, we had a ball together.

I also got a chance to meet Kendis Gibson, who was the third part of our "Cool Kitchens and Baths" team for the show this year. He is extremely talented, has a great sense of humor and an awesome person to work with.

(this next part might sound like bragging, but bear with me. I stayed home for 10 years and raised my kids....so it's a dream to be able to get to say the following...)
I love that I get a chance to travel, experience places, and meet incredible people all in the name of "work." I truly feel blessed and spoiled. But you know what.... there is no place like home (click ruby slippers now) and I was so excited to see my kids and husband when I walked through the revolving door at the Portland airport. They are my "real life."

I'll let you know when the project is done and when you can see this year's "Cool Kitchens and Baths" special. I think it's gonna rock!

(To see last years special, just go to http://www.better.tv/, and click on "Shows" and you'll find it there.)

Mug Shots

2008-04-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

Our family has never really been good at taking pictures together. I'm not saying we take bad pictures, but.....hm...sometimes they just aren't...... good.

First of all, I'm usually the only one who wants to take a family pic...and getting the crew to gather for this event can be easily compared to getting them all to brush their teeth before bed. You really gotta work at it.

The odds are against us to start with. To line up 6 people to do anything at the same time is a minor miracle. Add squinting at the sun, wind, "he's touching me", and the good old bunny ears behind dad, and you might as well give up!

Here is a recent attempt when we were at the beach... Certainly not our worst, but....we didn't really "nail it" either.

Oh well....God love 'em.

It Takes A Village!

2008-04-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Spring Break In Seaside Oregon!

(First of all.....that sentence cracks me up and takes me back! About 20 years ago, I spent many a spring break in Seaside with my girlfriends: lookin' for hot babes....cruisin' the boardwalk, flipping my hair, staying up late and sleeping in til noon! Ha..makes me laugh that I return years later with 4 kids and a mini van! Awesome!.... I digress.......)

Ok.....I love vacationing with friends! I've only done it a few times as a grown-up with kids, but I'm hooked!

We went to the beach with our friends Jay & Allison McKenney, and Brian & Jenni Clayville...So, including our family we had: 6 grown ups and 7 kids! Yes....we were totally outnumbered!

First reason this vacation rocked:

1. All my friends are amazing cooks! (Opposites DO attract!) Meal-time meant we ate well! We all split up the food responsibilites between the three families (my husband took our shifts so I didn't poison anyone.) Every meal was GRUB! I, uh, pretty much ate like it was my job! I put in a lot of overtime.......

Another reason.....

2. I love my friend's children! Ava and Macy McKenney are scrumptious! My kids just couldn't get enough of them. I wanted to steal Ava and take her home with me. She has got to be the happiest baby I have ever known! She radiates joy! Oh....she made my womb tickle!

Chance Clayville probably has the cutest voice and funniest personality in the world. Everytime he spoke, I laughed. We currently say many "Chance-isms" at our house....but after this weekend, we added a few more. Here he is pushing Ava's "happy button".....Adorable!

This is an understatment: Jay has a way with kids. (Probably because he is still a kid himself!) He was like the Pied Piper....they all just swarmed him. I kept thinking I should shoo them away from him...."Give him some space, kids"....but he seemed to love it. There was no shortage of "fart humor" that is for certain.

I've always really believed the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child"...and after this week at the beach, I am convinced it's true! We had 12 parent eyeballs working at all times.... The kids didn't stand a chance! No child was unattended, un-observed, or unloved......

Last reason:

3. There is something really cool about seeing your friends love your kids.....It has a unique way of deepening the friendship.

My kids had a blast! Special thanks to my hubby, who braved the BIZARRE weather and took the kids out to play....so I could relaaaaaaaaax (uh....and eat.)

And to Alli, Jay, Jenni, Brian...... thanks for a great spring break!

Vegas - Part 1

2008-03-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Back from Vegas. The trip was a success. We shot the first several interviews with magazine editors and vendors: Armtrong floors and DuPont. I'm always amazed at how hard everyone works behind the scenes. Here's Brian and Cory sweating out the lighting to get the perfect shot.

Here's me, helping.

Just kidding.... I saw no "Thunder Down Under"..... I just thought this was funny.

Remember that my favorite part of traveling is sleeping in my own bed.... This time I had two to choose from!!!!!

And....a flat screen TV.

But, truly, there is no place like home. I'm leaving again in one day to head back to Sin City for the 2nd part of three trips to shoot. I shouldn't have even unpacked!

Back to Vegas

2008-03-05T20:31:00.001-08:00

Heading to Vegas this weekend to shoot for the 2008 KBIS special on "Cool Kitchen and Baths. "

For some, I'm sure that sounds exciting because Vegas is considered the number #1 "Party City!" Well, let me just say, once again, my favorite part of this trip........sleeping by myself in my own hotel room. I know, I'm really a buzz kill. But that truly is what I look forward to...for a few days, I have my own space, and can sleep sprawled out and someone else cleans my room and makes my bed. It's borderling amazing.

This time I'm staying at the Mandalay Bay hotel.......pretty sparkly and goldy, huh?

This might be cool, though... a pool, with actual sun. Something we don't see much of here in the NW. I hate to steal the show, but, I'll be the SUPER WHITE CHICK lathered in sunblock wearing the waterwings!!! Cannonball!!!!!!!

Viva....

YouTube and Mean People!

2008-02-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

I just discovered that Parents TV and Better TV have channels on YouTube. So, I thought, "Wow, that's so cool! We're on YouTube!"

Ok...that was until I read some of the comments. You-tubers are harsh people!!!!! At least the "comment-ers" are. I've never posted a comment there, or read any, so I had no idea how negative they are.

In the last two years of working in television....being in the public eye, I've come to a conclusion: People who "comment" or "write in" are complainers. They are the negative people looking for something to hate. They want to rant. They want to give their opinions and they want to make sure it stings.

I've read hate mail sent to the most amazing, sweet, hard working and wonderful people on the planet. I've even received such mail myself. Letters from strangers tearing apart my intellect, my appearance and my intentions.

The "nice letters" are about 1 to 1,000....and it made me think: Nice people must be too busy being nice and looking for the good in people to take the time to sit down and pen out a nasty gram.....or a nice gram for that matter.

Mean people, on the other hand, must have a lot of free time. Because, all I ever see anymore in the "comment world" is complaining, criticism, tearing down,crude, rude, nasty remarks. It's seriously depressing! Stop drinking the hatorade for breakfast, people!

So, here is my plea. All you nice people (and you know who you are...) Take a small moment next time you're watching something on TV, or You Tube, or Myspace, or whatever.....and write something......nice. Encourage someone. Let someone know you appreciate what they do. Otherwise....the stinkers will have all the say!

LET'S TAKE BACK THE COMMENT WORLD, PEOPLE! See if we can suffocate those mean, heartless people with a flood of pleasantness.

(I guess this blog borders on complaining....eh? Well....I just had to vent a little.....back to being nice....)

Boomin'!

2008-02-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Last night, my husband and I took our best friend, Aaron, to the Toby Mac/Jeremy Camp concert in Salem. (Those of you reading who don't know where Salem is or how far away it is from where I live it's about an hour and a half drive.).....(Oh....and I hate long drives!)

Now, when I say, "we took" our friend, I mean that we bought tickets as part of his Christmas/Birthday present, and we invited him. What really happend was, he took us!

IN THIS:

This plane is called a Cirrus. It's like the Lexus of the sky. I've flown in many planes (as my husband is a pilot.) I have NEVER, however, flown like this. This plane was seamless. The flight there was magnificent. It was the first clear night in Oregon for months, and the sun was just going down. The sky was a gorgeous yellow/orange/red! I felt like the biggest spoiled brat on the planet. I snapped some pictures with my new phone (see previous post), but I have no idea how to get them onto my computer. I'll try to post them later......when I get through the manual.

Ok, first up was Matthew West. He is awesome. The guy had surgery recently on his vocal chords and was out for 3 months. He couldn't make a single peep for three whole months! For those of us who sing....... or just enjoy talking, can you even imagine how hard that would be???? Anyway...he did more "snippets" of songs, probably to preserve his voice....but he rocked it. Loved him.

Then Jeremy Camp came out! He has got to be one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters. I just love his passion. He sings a song called "Lay Down My Pride" that my four year old belts out like he owns it....and that just makes me smile. Now, Jeremy happend to have the flu last night...fever, aches, headache, sick tum...but you would NEVER have known it. He was incredible. Powerful performance and even more powerful testimony. You should check out his story. Talk about overcoming heartache. Read his bio....

Last up, of course, was Toby Mac. I bought his CD for my oldest son for Christmas this year. Yeah, I pretty much kept it. His music is slammin'. It's kind of a "thrasher funk." A mix between either metal or alt rock and funk/hip hop/soul. (I'm very descriptive.)

He and his band, DiverseCity KICKED IT, last night. Hands down, the funnest show I've seen in a long, long time. They had so much energy up there, we all wanted to join the band and jump in the tour bus! There is something about watching people have that kind of crazy fun together that is contageous. Loved the show, Toby is the master of entertainment, and his band is the band we ALL wish we had!

Ok...ALL that said.... I think I'm getting too old for concerts. It's really loud, you have to stand for a long time and I like to go to bed by 9:30.

I just lost my "cool" vibe, didn't I?

"I.......Love Technology..."

2008-02-12T21:13:00.001-08:00

So, I dropped my phone today. Might not have been the first time.....it was definately the last. It made a sad little sound. Kind of like a
"whimper." When I picked it up off the ground it had a blank screen, no more picture of a guitar with the time showing through the front. Shortly after, I hear the spirit horse come for it and it went completely lifeless.

I was devastated. I'd grown pretty attached to it. I felt sad and guilty for finally killing it.... all the way. You see, it's been "mostly dead" a few other times, but somehow I've brought it back. We've been through so much together. We've laughed, we've cried, we've yelled, we've whispered, we've dropped calls, we've taken pictures of weird people on the street that we'd never be able to explain in words. It was heart breaking to think of truly letting go.......forever.

So, I tried to hit it, thinking, "if a hard smack killed it, maybe another hard smack will bring it back." Kind of like the Fonzie method. "CLEAR!" No luck. It just sat in my hand unresponsive. It was time to say goodbye.

Sniff, Sniff.... "What, honey? I get to get a new one?"(Instant recovery.) "OK!" Moving on.

This is my new phone. It's super fancy. I have absolutely no idea how to work anything on it, but it has a lot of buttons and pictures and things to do on it. YAY!

I bought a case to go with it. You know, so when I drop it, there is something to brace the fall.

I'm looking forward to long conversations, laughing over text messages and groping in the dark. (When I can't find it in the bottom of my purse!!!)

(Channel your best memory of Kip from Napoleon Dynamite..) "I love techonology!"

Me, too, Kip! I love my new phone! I can't wait until I know what to do with it!

RIP Nokia.... Rest in peace, my darling.

Women Of...

2008-01-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

The It Moms are the featured "Women Of the Month" on the this cool website: Check out the article.....

WomenOf the Month: The “It” Moms Encourage Women to Live Life with Gusto
Holly Resnick and Marni Renison would say they are just like many other moms in America. They juggle roles and responsibilities while caring for their families. But these two have a gig that most moms don’t: They’re the “It” Moms of Better.tv, a site that features short video clips on everything from family to relationships to fashion, health, decorating and more. The “It” Moms’ clips encourage moms to rediscover the girl inside them, to chase after dreams they’ve forgotten, to try new things. In recent videos, Holly and Marni try out snowshoeing and bellydancing. They also offer advice on everyday matters like how married moms can find activities to do with single moms and how they can help moms in need.

We talked with Holly and Marni about their backgrounds, career paths, and the chemistry that helps them create fun and inspiring videos for the site.

Where did you grow up, go to school, and what did your moms do?
Holly: I grew up in the greater Portland (Oregon) area. I went to Lutheran High School which was a very small private school. I made varsity everything (as did anyone and everyone who tried out...) and managed to get a volleyball scholarship to Mt. Hood Community College. I studied psychology and played ball for two years and then got a job working for the doctors at OHSU. There I stayed for the next six years until I got married and had my first son. I was thrilled with the news of my pregnancy and thrilled to have a reason to leave my miserable job! It wasn't the best fit for me...I got in trouble CONSTANTLY for talking too much and being social. (Now I get paid to talk and be social......a much better occupation for me!)

My Mom worked for Wells Fargo Bank as far back as I can remember. She still does! She is the wire investigations supervisor. She worked hard and always had a smile on her face when she came home. I remember her coming home, making dinner, ironing my dad's suits, helping us with homework, and kissing us goodnight. Thinking back about that, now that I'm a mom, I don't know how she did it! I wonder when she ever got time for herself. She was a saint!

Marni: Originally, I am from Southern California, but have spent most of my life in Oregon. I went to grade and high school in southern Oregon and earned my BS from the University of Oregon in Eugene.
My mother worked as long as I can remember. She was a divorced mother of four and became an entrepreneur when I was in my young adolescence. Against many odds, she was able to provide for us and begin a new cycle for her family that included love, support and strength. One small factoid: my mother has been married five times. My sister and I are a product of her second marriage and she had two children from a previous marriage. Her fourth marriage was to a man that I still call my step-dad, as we still have a close relationship. While her many failed marriages may seem tragic to some, I write this with a smile on my face because I have learned what worked and what didn’t work in her life and I am able to apply it to my own. My mother didn’t have an example to work from to raise her family. She did it from her heart. And still does. I contribute my flexibility and sense of humor to her marital woes. Hee. Happy to say, I think she is finally with the one she will stay with forever. Good job, mom!

What’s your family life like?
Holly: My husband, Scott, is an airplane pilot, mechanic and FAA inspector. We've been married for almost 12 years and have four amazing children. The kids enjoy swimming, soccer, skateboarding and anything outdoors. Our family loves to spend time camping and playing at the beach.
We stay pretty busy...with school, homework, sports, and more....We're always rushing from here to there. It's nice to have those moments where we can be home doing nothing at all. One of our favorite things is sitting around the kitchen table with a jigsaw puzzle! We love to laugh and feel like a sense of humor is the key to a happy home.

Marni: My family life is pleasantly chaotic. I have two beautiful daughters, four years and eight months, and feel blessed to be married to a person I can truly call my best friend. My days are packed with laundry, zipping up princess dresses and changing diapers. There is a lot of energy in our house, so it takes a concerted effort to slow things down enough to enjoy the passing days instead of just watch them fly by. My husband and I are pretty private people, so we enjoy spending time as a family and have a pretty tight family unit. That being said, we also love hosting dinner parties that “wow” our guests and enjoy sunny afternoons when neighborhood children run through our house barefoot to grab the latest “Polly Pocket” to throw into the kiddy pool in the backyard.

How did you end up “It” Moms, and what does it take to be successful in what you do? What's the hardest thing about it and what's the most fun part?
Holly: My career path is hysterical! I started my young adult life thinking I'd be a psychologist. Life got in the way and I ended up in an office staring at a computer for eight hours a day. Thankfully, my next "career move" came when I had my first child...a job that gave my life purpose and meaning. Three kids and 10 years as a stay-at-home mom later, I find myself on the adventure of a lifetime!
On a fluke, I managed to get an interview/audition for the new morning show they were starting in Portland, Oregon called MORE (now called Better TV.) A friend who worked at the TV station said they were looking for local women to act as the shows experts: ie: nutrition expert, fitness expert, organizing expert, etc. He suggested I try out for the "fashion expert." Well, I had no experience in this area except for getting dressed everyday so I laughed it off. One day, as the show was getting closer to its air date, I got a call from that same friend who said, "I told the executive producer you were a fashion expert. He's calling you today." Click. And....he called! He said, "So, I hear you are a fashion expert?" Me: "Yup." (Gulp) "OK, come on in tomorrow so I can meet you." Panic.
I went in, they said, "your hired!" They delicately decided to find something else for me as I was not really a "true" expert. During my interview, they got to hear how much I have a heart for moms and how important community and encouragement is when you're in the "trenches." That got the wheels turning in the mind of the executive producer.
In his brilliance, he matched me up with Marni Renison, another fun mom and my soul sister. He gave us our mission: Show how "life after baby only gets better!" Since then, Marni and I have set out to encourage other moms to live life with gusto, face their fears and chase their dreams! We also hope to inspire moms to try new things and make time for the things in life that help them to thrive. If they are fulfilled women, they will be amazing moms! Oh...and always...always....keep a good sense of humor handy!
I guess if I could name one thing that works for us...it's authenticity. We don't pretend that motherhood is perfect, pretty, or smells nice all the time. Sometimes the cake you're trying to make turns out to be a flop that you wouldn't even feed the dog. Sometimes when we're shooting, "how to survive grocery shopping with kids.."your four-year-old has a meltdown and throws himself on the floor. We love that...we say keep the cameras rolling! That's real, that's a mom's life. Tips, strategies, helpful hints are great...but with kids, nothing is fool proof. Oh....and we have the most amazing photographer/editor!!!! Brian Watkins is his name... he's the other silent "It" Mom!!
The hardest part? I guess the hardest part is trying to fit everything you want to say, convey and express into a three-minute segment. Oh...and did I mention the four-year-old meltdowns in the middle of a shoot?
The best part? Wow....Everything! Definitely working with someone you adore is a plus! Marni is a treasure...I love her so. I also really enjoy spending my creative energy on something positive and helpful for other moms. There is so much seriousness and sadness in the world....Moms need a little goose of light-hearted inspiration every now and then. I know I do. It truly is my dream job.

Marni: For the last nearly 8 years, I have worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. I have always had an affinity towards medicine and really enjoy this line of work. But, I am sure you want to know about how I got into THIS business, so let me back up a little. After my first baby was born, my husband and I were relocated to North Carolina where we lived for two years. I stayed at home during this time, as we knew our stay in the Carolinas was limited. When we moved back to Portland, I started a small business for personal organizing. This is where it gets interesting. One of my clients was a lead anchor for the 10 o’clock news and explained that they were starting a morning show and needed “experts” for the show. She thought I should meet with the executive producer. So, when I went in to meet the EP, Seth Feldman, I was interviewed for the “organizing expert” position. He first asked, “How many clients do you have?” My answer? “Two”. He knew right then and there that I was as green as they come in the organizing realm and had no business talking about it on television. He was right. I was a mom. And I just had a job offer from a biotech company that was a dream come true. “But, I like you”, he said. “We are going to use you for something.” A few days later I got a call back to go in and talk about a segment for moms. “I can do that!” I thought. “I have this mom thing down….I think”. And the “It” Moms were born.
Oh, and I took the position for the biotech company. One of the best things I ever did. I also did the “It” Moms, which shot about once a week. Wow. That was a couple crazy years.

What does it take to be successful? To be honest, I have no idea. I have a hunch it has to do with having strong shoulders, a sense of humor and courage.
For me, the hardest thing about working in this industry is that it is very subjective. Each viewer has a unique opinion of whether or not we “hit the mark” with a good segment. There is no cut and dry formula we can follow that if we do all the steps, we nail it. The result is a mix of opinions where the majority wins. This is where a set of strong shoulders, a sense of humor and courage come in handy.
The most fun part about working and developing the “It” Moms is when we make a difference. When we get stopped in public and thanked for making people laugh, talking about a specific topic, or passing along some good advice it is incredibly rewarding. Oh, and working with two great friends is probably the best part.

What are the different talents that make up the chemistry mix for you two?
Holly: Marni is both scientific and extremely creative! She is also very organized and driven! She inspires me every day! Marni is an amazing cook, gardener, organizer and runner! These are all skills I DO NOT possess! I guess I'm more of the "free spirit"...the "hippie" of the duo. I enjoy singing, painting, writing, acting, dancing, and hate exercises for the sake of exercise. Exercise has to be disguised as fun, or I'm not into it.
I think our chemistry comes from our ridiculous humor and our love for each other. We also share a love for mommies and want to see them succeed in this crazy rollercoaster of chaos. People often ask us if we've been friends for years and are surprised to find out we met a few days before our first shoot. We had an instant connection!

Marni: Holly is incredibly talented. She is a singer/songwriter and had been at home raising children for 10 years when this began. She is a performer, so she is very comfortable in front of the camera. Holly is spontaneous and has a great sense of humor, so she adds spark to our pieces. Many people think we are “just alike”, but in fact we are very different. I have spent the last ten years working for corporate America with some of that time trying to work and be a mommy. I love baking, gardening and running. Holly claims that she “doesn’t cook” (which isn’t true – I have had her peanut butter and jelly!). I tend to have a dry sense of humor and wish I could make an art of sarcasm.

What kinds of activities have you filmed for Moms to get involved with, and what’s coming up?
Holly: We have done some pretty crazy things like: belly dancing, bungee jumping, rock climbing, kickboxing, henna tattoos, crabbing, and skateboarding to name a few. We've done some great "normal" mom things like: gardening with the kids, berry picking, getting a picky eater to gobble up his veggies, how to shoe shop for kids and teaching kids to make friends by example. We've also done some incredible, worthwhile things like: volunteering with and without kids, Race for the Cure, boosting your daughter's self esteem and finding ways to help a mom who’s child is faced with cancer.
We've pushed our comfort zones, tried new things and faced our fears all to nurture the "inner girl" that lives in the heart of every mom!
Coming up we have some great stories: Snowshoeing, a lesson in billiards- "when date night is his idea", cheerleading camp for moms, Spanish class, guitar lessons and much more! We'll be showing a lot of things outside of the normal routine, so we can shake things up a bit! We'll throw in our stories and tips on how to make mom's life easier, too, but who wants to talk about laundry and dishes when you're doing them all the time?!

Marni: We look at anything and everything that a mother could do to get out of the “mommy rut”. Anything to make her feel alive, that she is living for herself as well as her family. Upcoming? We are looking at dancing with professional NBA cheerleaders, taking an etiquette class, fun ways to do your hair as a mommy, when you only have 3 minutes (like so many of us do!)

What do you think the biggest stressors are for moms, working or otherwise?
Holly: I think moms put too much pressure on themselves. I've heard so many friends saying things like, "I feel so guilty..." for things like not getting them in soccer soon enough or not being able to get them into piano lessons because of the cost. I'm guilty of this as well. We need to give ourselves a break. Focus on loving our kids and not showering them with things or activities that the world tells us will make them happy. The picture of June Cleaver is nice, but she was an actress on TV. The reality of motherhood is you do the best you can, you love your kids without condition or expectation, and you wake up every morning and tell yourself, "today is a new day!" And.....this is a big one: We need to stop comparing ourselves to other moms...real or on TV. Just be the best you, you can be! Take some time, every day, to love yourself. Find out what makes you thrive and go for it! Your health and happiness is vital to your whole family's well being! What a great life example for the little eyes watching your every move!

Marni: As a mommy who was working full time for two years with a little one at home, I can honestly say that I think the biggest stressor that we put on ourselves as mothers is the pressure to get it right. Do we work, or stay home? Should we sign her up for that class, or would that be too many activities? Did I read enough to her today? Was I “present” with my kids or just at home with them? This constant self reflection is important but can easily over complicate motherhood. Something we try to do as the “It” Moms is convey a sense of acceptance. A “come as you are” approach to raising children. We are not perfect, in fact we try to make that apparent in our pieces in hopes to alleviate some of the pressure of being a mommy. As mothers, we have a serious job. So, it’s necessary to laugh at ourselves and give ourselves grace. Hopefully mothers watching our pieces will connect with the fact that we can’t bake the perfect princess cake our first try either. In fact, my first attempt was a miserable failure. Just try, and try again. And LAUGH. Remember to laugh.
Check out the It Moms at http://www.better.tv/

Get It Together

2008-01-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hey All! Go check out www.parents.com/getittogether. You can see a few of the Discover Card videos we shot a while back. These were the segments written up in the New York Times!

I wrote, produced and appeared with the kids in two, Marni did the same in her two, and the two of us collaborated on the fifth one.

My two are:
* Keeping Kids Organized
* Family Meal Planning

Marni had:
* Caring for Pets
* Saying Thank You

The fifth is:
* Going Green - Teaching Kids to Recycle

They're fun tips for parents to help get the whole family involved in daily tasks and responsibilities! The kids are super cute, too, so it's worth a few minutes if you have time to check them out!

Red Heads Bond

2008-01-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

If you grew up a red-head, then you will understand this post. If you did not, hopefully you will gain some insight into the world of a fair-skinned, freckle-faced, red-headed person you either know or will meet in the future. Consider this sensitivity training.

The other night at a birthday party for my brother- in-law, John, I got to hang out with Kim. (She's the one I'm craddling on the left.) If you put two red-heads in a room together, it is most likely that they will gravitate toward one another. No matter how shy or introverted, sooner or later they will cross a crowded room to begin a conversation. Like true kindred spirits, the conversation flows effortlessly and can easily go all evening long and phone numbers will be exchanged by the end of the night.

"Why?" You ask? Well, there is something about surviving a childhood as "the red-head" that draws you to others that have shared the same experience. Let me explain with just a short list of some of the "casualties of red hair."

1. You burn like the dickens. Sun is not your friend. No amount of SPF can save you from becoming a lobster and/or turning into one giant freckle. I gave up my search for the perfect cream that would rid me of the unsightly sun spots sometime in junior high. Instead, I began to pray they would all merge. At least then, I might register some evidence of pigment.

2. Non-existent eyebrows. If you take a close look at this picture, my eyebrows are missing. If not for brow pencils, they would still be invisible to the naked eye. Lashes are the same.....kind of like a pig. My thanks to whoever invented mascara. God bless you.... You're probably a red-head and we would be best friends.

3. Everyone wants to be blond and tan/Everyone wants to date someone who's blond and tan. Ok, maybe not so much anymore, but back in my youth, this was the undeniable truth. The "California girl" image was plastered on every magazine, tv show and movie for my entire, painful adolescent years. My sister (shown here on the right) tried to "help me" once by testing out a frosting kit to give me highlights. Um... the word "candystriper" rolls right off my tongue.

4. The temper sterio-type is real. And yes... you should be scared.

5. Numerous nicknames and countless ways to torment and tease. I'm not going to list any of these, but I'm sure you have an idea. "Carrot Top" was one of the mild ones....not even on the richter.

6. When you're cold, you turn blue. Kind of an ashy, post mortem, grey blue, really.....with freckles on top. Oh, and when you cry, you turn red and blotchy. Nice.

As Kim and I talked on and on into the wee hours....we laughed and celebrated all things red-head. Like long lost relatives, we shared many of the same stories, trials and blessings.

This blog does not highlight any of the benefits of being a red-head on purpose, because...well.... that would just be bragging!

So, thanks, Kim.....for crossing a crowded room, my Sistah!

High Five!

We're in the New York Times!

2007-12-28T19:39:00.001-08:00

The "It" Moms made the New York Times today! I'm not kidding! They did a write up on the Discover Card videos we shot. Since Marni and I wrote the scripts and produced these little segments on helping the family "get it together" I have to say, I take great pride in the fact that they are recognized by the World's most distinguished newspaper! Here is the first part of the article... Please note the most important part............they call us: "yummy mummies." I liked that part the most. I attached the link at the bottom if you care to read the whole article!

Discover Tries Nurturing Parents
By LYNNLEY BROWNING
Published: December 28, 2007

IN a bet that managing your finances is like raising your child — trying, but rewarding — the Discover credit card has a new marketing partnership with Parents magazine, the nation’s most popular glossy about the world’s most demanding job.

The Discover card is producing content for Parents magazine, in print and on the Web, in the hope of gaining new business.

Created by the media agency Starcom USA of Chicago, the Discover campaign is aimed at getting droves of Parents readers to sign up for the perennially also-ran Discover card, which is dwarfed in market share by Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

The campaign does not try to bombard frazzled mothers with financial advice or credit card applications. Rather, like a good parent, Discover is taking a gentle and patient approach: it has placed a soft-sell campaign in Parents magazine and on its Web site, and has signed on as a sponsor of ParentsTV, a broadband television channel and Internet site presenting videos about parenting.

The anchor of the Discover campaign is a monthly editorial feature and advertising gatefold in the magazine, which is published by the Meredith Corporation. Both elements offer time-management tips intended to create what Parents calls more “together time.”
•
The Parents magazine Web site, http://www.parents.com/, serves up content both prosaic and glamorous, like tips on toddler diarrhea or “Hot Mama: The Best Celebrity Bellies of 2007.” In the same vein, a new Discover-sponsored portal on the parents.com Web site highlights “It Moms” and the slogan, “Get it together!” The videos on this channel show parents how to teach their children to do simple household tasks.

The portal has short videos of two “yummy mummies” who give advice on feeding the household pets and writing thank-you notes. In one video, a stylish blond mother cheerily instructs her toddler to write to her grandmother. The card the toddler writes on can be downloaded and printed from the Web site and features the Discover logo.
But will consumers — specifically, millions of mothers — also feel compelled to fill out applications for the Discover card?

Despite its popularity among existing users, who love its signature cash-back rebates, the Discover card has always been widely perceived as lackluster. Discover Financial Services, which was spun off from Morgan Stanley last summer and has struggled financially, has never been as widely accepted among retailers as the leading brands. Discover Financial Services’ stock price has been clobbered since its spinoff, losing about half of its value.
Still, Discover’s pairing with Parents underscores a growing trend in which marketers are linking up disparate brands in hopes of generating something greater than either could achieve alone.
“We’re trying to align the brand with content partners that are going after the same consumers,” said Mark Hosbein, a senior vice president for brand management and advertising at Discover. “Parents gives advice and tools on how to be a better parent, and Discover gives tools on how to manage money. It rolls off on our brand.”

For the rest of the article...see below!http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/business/media/28adco.html?_r=1&ref=media&oref=slogin

Home-made Dance, Dance Game

2007-12-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

The other night after dinner, Kelton announces that we will all be playing a game together. He marches upstairs with great intention, and returns shortly after with his little quilt blanket. As he's laying out the corners with the precision of a Naval officer making his bunk, he tells his dad to "turn'dup." Which means, "turn the music up."

His sweet face is full of determination and we are all dying to find out what he has in store for us. Whatever it is, we are in for something good.

"So, what game are we gonna play, buddy?"

(Here it is.......)

"Dance, Dance Pollution." (Supressed laughter.)
Yes, you heard me. Dance, Dance Pollution.

I'm sure you've heard of Dance, Dance Revolution, right? Well, at the Resnick house, apparently, we play Dance, Dance Pollution. A much more economical version where all you need is music, a blanket, and a 4 year old with a trememdous imagination.

Music blaring...We all played along. Stepping to the beat, placing our toes on the squares Kelton called out.

I've never played the real game before, but I don't believe it would have been any more fun than the version created by my 4 year old.

I cannot stand how cute he is sometimes!

Dance on!

The Christmas Program

2007-12-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

This is the scene on the way to Kelton's Christmas program. NOT a good sign.

If you look closely, you can actually see drool. As I looked at him in the back seat, I was convinced we would have some sort of "incident" that night.

Let's just do a quick review of last year's program: He cried, yelled at the kid standing next to him, stared at the floor, refused to sing the whole time and ended up sitting on the lap of his teacher for the final number. He looked like an angry drunk! So, this year, I worked REALLY hard at preparing him for what the night had in store. My mission all day was to keep him happy no matter what! I basically let him do whatever he wanted just before we left the house. I even instructed his siblings "not to mess with him." I felt like Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island: "Smiles everyone, smiles...."

Ok, so we get to the school and I gently wake him, wipe the drool off his sweater and ease him out of his car seat. I run straight for the bathroom because, well, it's been a while. I practically had to "go to the bathroom for him" because he was so tired. (Moms with boys know what I'm talking about!) We rush into his classroom ON TIME (believe it or not) and I plop him down next to a little girl in a big, poofy Christmas dress. I begin massaging his mood. "Wow, buddy, you are a great puzzle solver. Look, all your friends are here and they're so excited to sing songs with you! Won't this be great!?" I wait until I see him make something that looked like a smile, and then I make my exit maneuver. "Ok, Pal... I'm going to go so I can get a good seat and cheer for you! I'll be waiving like crazy, so look for me! I love you... I'm so proud... have fun.... Are you ok????? Alright....Mom's gonna go now....."

Iside the auditorium, it is a zoo of parents, grandparents and family friends. The flashes and camcorders are nothing short of a frenzy of papparazzi. My little man comes out.....small...blue and grey stripes, and I literally start jumping up and down like a freak! The people next to me move, making a comment about "pageant moms." Oblivious and unaffected by it all, I flutter about insanely, waving with wild abandon hoping he will see his mom!

No such luck. The kid never even knew I was there.

However, He........ ABSOLUTELY ROCKED IT! Dude was so into it! The singing, dancing, the hand gestures....all of it! He even pulled out his own moves at different points throughout the night. He did this Egyptian head weave thing with his hands over his head while they were singing Away in a Manger that surprised us all. Kid was all about the improv! His dad, siblings and I were LOVING IT! Of course, we DIDN'T bring our video recorder, so you'll just have to take my word for it. It was definately a Christmas program night we will never forget.

Afterwords, we are supposed to pick him up in his classroom. THIS, is how he was when we came to get him. Please take some time to study this picture, for it is a rare occasion that he will "smile" for a picture.

We scooped him up and told him how great he was....and then we headed straight for the cookies and punch! The four kids took a "thumbs up picture" in front of the Christmas tree to commemerate the occasion!

I was thrilled....a night of possible dissaster ended up absolutely delightful. My little man was practically perfect! What a blessing! Somebody pinch me.

As he was eating his big, green frosting cookie, I said, "Can I take your picture?" To which he replied, "No...stop looking at me."

Whew....we got out of there just in time.

The "It" Moms are on Comcast!

2007-12-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

Select On Demand

This month, the "It" Moms reached new heights! We are now part of Comcast VOD (click the "Select on Demand" above!) Yep...right there next to Martha Steward, HGTV, TLC, etc.... You will see Parents TV, the newest Meredith Corp. venture.

It's pretty incredible to see all of us on cable TV! The kids think it's "really cool" and I am thrilled! To steal a catch phrase from an old add campaign, "We've come a long way, baby!" Sniff, sniff...I'm so proud.

If you are a Comcast customer, check it out! Here's how to maneuver:

1. Go to channel 1 - Comcast on Demand
2. Scroll until you find the : Life and Home category and click it
3. Look for "Parents TV" and enter there
4. The IT Moms have their own channel and you can watch a ton of videos from the show!

Pretty wild, huh? What's next? Oprah!!! Oh.....Don't tease me...

I Always Wanted A Little Brother!

2007-11-29T10:21:00.001-08:00

Just a typical moment with two older sisters. They were "fixing" his hair. The really cute thing is....that he wanted to wear it like that all day.

I always wanted a little brother. I was the youngest of two girls. The baby. Now, that has it's advantages, don't get me wrong. To this day, my sister will still buy my lunch when we go out...and put her hand across my chest when we come to an abrupt stop in the car. Yes... I have to admit, I like being the baby. BUT....I had no one to pick on, blame, or dress up like a girl....and there is an emptiness that will never go away as a result. (cue the dramatic, tear-jerking music...)

I used to beg my parents to adopt a little boy when I was in grade school. At one point, my dad almost let us get this pet monkey from an exotic pet store. You even had to put diapers on it... it was SO cute. I figured that was as good if not better than a baby brother. But, alas, he changed his mind... and my mom said "no" to the adoption idea, and told me to stop pestering her.

I was left to tag along with my older sister, mostly unwanted. The baby.

Look at the fun I missed!

Hum.....I wonder where the monkey is now?

Remember when.....

2007-11-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

Ahhh.. Remember when you used to love satin short outfits? And when matching your sister and your cousin was like THE coolest thing in the world....and you couldn't wait to go somewhere all together to show off your sweet outfits....like maybe roller skating? Thinking maybe, people would think you were a singing group or family act like the Partridges or the Jacksons or something???? Ok...............maybe it was just me.

My sister, Angie, had these pictures on her myspace. I do not remember ever seeing them. My sister is the hot brunette on the left with the Dorothy Hamill hair cut. My cousin Missy is the one with the "oh-so-desired-but-not-easy-to-do-for-only-the-chosen-have-it" Marsha Brady, pin straight bleached blond hair on the left. And that just leaves me in the middle. With the slick part and ultra feather....apparently growing out the Dorothy Hamill hair. Nice. You GOTTA love the 70's!!!

This picture is awesome. Here we are meeting Mickey for THE first time ever...and some little punk is trying to get in our frame. "Um.... kid.....wait your turn. We drove all the way from Milwaukie, Oregon in a 2 door Capri (packed with apparently TONS of tube socks.) This is OUR time with the Mouse, so step off before I get all Milwaukie on ya!"

Hm? I don't know....... are those black boots I'm wearing? Look closely, I can't tell. Either way... We are definately lovin' the moment. And Mickey looks like he really likes me....see how he's leaning in?

(He probably asked my sister to "go with him" after that pic....and I left with the rainslicker kid to ride the tea cups... whatev.)

One Small Shift

2007-11-05T13:09:00.001-08:00

I had a great conversation with my friend, Victor Johnson the other day. He is a life long friend and I always appreciate our talks. He said something very simpe yet very profound......

"The whole world would change and be an amazing place if people made just one, small shift..."

"What's that?" I asked.

"If people would just put others before themselves."

We talked about how the shift is possible in every person's life, but that so many of us hold onto a "Me First" attitude....thinking we have to look out for "number one" or we'll get lost in the shuffle.

A great thought to ponder, eh? What would the world look like if we all put others first?

My friend, Jay is demonstrating this idea with a girl named Heidi. Check out his blog.

You first...

Sucking Air!

2007-10-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

Ok...this is definately a PG13 post. Those of you who are too mature for bodily function humor might want to log off immediately.

I was working out this morning at my athletic club. This is not an easy thing for me to do....my schedule is crazy, my motivation is lacking, and it's been a long time since I've been to the gym...and that means I am not in the best shape...literally. I try really hard not to look like I'm sucking air and struggling to stay utop the machine. Inside I'm thinking, "Breathe through your nose, don't grunt."

So....I climb on the elliptical and push the normal buttons, plug in my headphones to watch CSI or some E-True Hollywood Story on the Wheel of Fortune....and I'm off. The first 5 minutes seem like I'm going to DIE...but..I press on.

I've come into my stride around 17 minutes....I'm going to make it!! I'm over half way there and I don't even mind the minor aches and pains because I'm so into Pat and Vanna at this point. And then......... I smell it.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! No...not the usual "small one that passes quickly"...almost like you're not even sure it happened at all. NO, this was a, "someone had Baja Fresh last night" one that did not seem to dissipate no matter which way I turned my head.

There was only one woman right next to me. I knew it had to be her. Bless her heart, she was trying just as hard as I was to get a work out in without dying.

I thought... "Oh, no, I might be sick..." And I wondered if it was rude to run. She would know that I know...and that I was leaving because...well.... YOU KNOW!

Like a thick cloud.... it finally started to break up and move on... THANK GOD!

I looked at my settings: 18:47 seconds... Ok.. I was back on track...on my way to 30 minutes, and then I could do something else. SomeWHERE else.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN!!!

HEAVEN HELP ME!!! I almost gagged.l..Seriously! This was now NOT OK. I'm all for working a little out here and there if you need to...but come ON!!!! This was like.......A sneak attack!!

I JUMPED off the machine, grabbed my sweatshirt from the floor and ran!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure she was thinking... "oh...goodness....is that because of me?"

YES!!!! It WAS!

Let It Rain!!!

2007-10-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

This is the view from the backyard of my husband's brother, Kevin. He lives in San Diego.

Can you even imagine???

We complain so much about rain up here in the great Northwest, but obviously, there are worse situations to be in! Wish we could send you some of our rain about now, eh!

Kevin sent this picture with a message to us early this morning (10/23),"This is our new backyard view. We will most likely spend the day packing up what we can."

Unbelievable!

Tonight's report from from Scott's mom was a huge blessing, "Just got off the phone with Kevin. The fire got within 7 miles of them, but the winds have died and the fire fighters have done a valiant job of stopping it. He was looking forward to his first nights’ sleep tonight; but they are safe as of 9pm."

Thank God! Our prayers go out to all the families in this scary crisis! And Uncle Kevin, we love you guys... sleep well and be safe!

I had higher hopes....

2007-10-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Today was Kelton's Pumpkin Patch day for pre-school. This is the first year where I had only ONE child with me for this event. You see, when you have four kids, you rarely get to spend time alone with any of them...that is, until now. I get a little teary when I think that this is my last pumpkin patch day, or last anything....as this is my last child... God willing....and he is growing up WAY too fast!

Ok...so we started out great! I had our day all planned. We'd do the P.P. thing for a while, then go get some lunch together and then get a treat...something special just for the two of us. (Ok.. I just wanted ice-cream....but whatev.)

We rode the tractor, picked our pumkins out, ate some pumpkin donuts and had some apple cider.......And then things began to change.

My little "date" was loosing his charm and turning on me. ME! The one who was spending quality, one-on-one time with him and going to take him for ice-cream if he would just behave himself a little while longer. Uh....No such luck... Here he is snubbing the goats. I was like, "They are so cute, do you want to pet them?" And he was like, "NO! They are berry yucky."

The "tude" was mutating and I was running out of threats. Fast forward about 8 "NO" 's later...And I was done, "Oh..we are going home and you are NOT getting a treat, either, Mister." His response....."But I WANT a treat!!" Me..."Well... SO DO I, But you just had to go and mess it up for both of us!!"

As we were leaving, I asked his teacher from last year, Mrs. Burton, to take a picture of us so we could "remember this special day"..... And this is it.

He wouldn't even look at the camera, much less smile. So... this is my memory of the last pumpkin patch day with my last child.... I must say....I had higher hopes. (sigh.)

Family Photo Segment!

2007-09-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we shot a segment on, "How to get the perfect family photo!" (You can watch it on http://www.better.tv/ click on the IT MOMS channel. It's actually one of my favorites so far!)

It was such a great day, such a great shoot, and look at some of these amazing pictures from the day!

Jim Semlor of Tumbleweed Photography in Hood River was our "shooter." He was amazing and I couldn't recommend him enough! He made us a DVD of all the photos from the day set to music.... It makes me cry every time I watch it!
Marni and I also had him take some "head shots" of us...and it's the first time we've ever BOTH liked ourselves in the pictures! That alone is a miracle!

If you're looking for someone to capture a special occasion or just create one, give Jim a call. This was our first time getting family pictures outside of a stuffy studio. We will never go back!!!

Blog Update

2007-09-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd spend a "blog moment" to update you on some of the topics of past posts!

1. SPARKLE TANGERINE MARIE OF THE WIND RESNICK:

Still pregnant. Doesn't seem to show any signs of maturity or a contrite heart. She doesn't even spend much time at home anymore. I think our relationship has changed as a result. She is distant, and I am feeling the walls come up.

2. MY DEAR JULIE REID:

Julie came through her open heart surgery and is doing very well. Praise God! She is home with her family. She and her husband actually drove cross country from Chicago to get home because Julie couldn't fly. They are amazing people... and they are slowly trying to heal and put their lives back together after this unexpected twist in their story.

3. THE IT MOMS GO NATIONAL!

We did it...we went national as of Sept. 10th, 2007. You can now see the Better TV show in close to 13 different markets throughout the country. And...we're on 3 days a week instead of 1 now. Mon, Wed, Fri. I still LOVE my job and the people I work with. I feel so blessed.

4. MY TOOTH STILL HURTS LIKE SNOT! (I found this picture on the net... it's called: "Man in Pain"....hee, hee.) They think now it might be an impacted wisdom tooth that is trapping a nerve that's causing all the fuss. I see an oral sugeon tomorrow. I can barely stand another day of this... aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. My heart goes out to people who deal with chronic pain....life is so challenging when you face pain everyday. Blessings and prayers to you all.

HELL on earth!

2007-09-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

I usually avoid public swearing. In most cases, I will say, "H - E - double-hockey-sticks"...but not now. This is the real deal. I am in HELL!

Two words: Root canal.

Ok... Right off the bat, I can't believe I'm even blogging about this. For some reason, in my warped little head, teeth issues are shameful. Does anyone else feel that way? If I encounter a problem with my tooth...I've done something wrong. Not enough brushing...flossing, rinsing.....something has gone wrong and it's MY fault! This is what I put myself through, anyway. I practically hide myself in sacloth and yell, "unclean, unclean" when I pass people on the street. Maybe it's just me. I tend to exaggerate.

Ok, so, this sad little tooth of mine, has been through 30, uh hem, years with me, and just can't take the pressure anymore. She's given all she has, and she aint got no more. I understand....I get it... game over. It's time to let her go. I was thinking more of a peaceful, quiet passage....uh.... but no......

This is WAR!!!! A violent, horrible, excruciating war!!! I've gone through 2 attempts in the last two days to complete this mission! The first day, the troops could only reach two of the canals (can you picture a scene out of Platoon!?Mist on the canal....) Day two, wounded, bandaged, they sent me to a new camp, camp-Endodontist for the final battle!!! I was stabbed numerous times, drilled, SHOT, gassed, yanked this way and that, and left for dead!!!

I received no metal. But I survived. I will never be the same.

FLOSS PEOPLE! That's all I'm gonna say..... Save yourselves! FLOSS!!!

Parting is such sweet sorrow.....

2007-08-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I said "goodbye" to my dear friend, Jenni, and her family. They are leaving in a few days for sunny California... Bel Air to be exact. What's that all about? I went to give hugs and kisses to her children and pinch her one last time.

Let me talk a moment about my friend, Jenni. Jennifer Dawn as I like to call her.... She is no ordinary friend.
(See picture of her in Mexico on her first vacation without kids.)
Jenni is my friend who is raw and uncut. She's the "unrated" friend. I absolutely adore her. Is she the nicest person in the room? No. Is she the most sensitive? No. Does she make you double over in pain with her unpredictable, random, off the frickin' wall comments? Yes. Would she do anything for you if you needed her? Yes. Is she the first to offer practical "I'll make you a meal" help when you're sick and in bed? Yes...and it will be the best meal you ever eat! Jenni and I have broken through the "I'm fine" fake answer, fake smiles fecade and gotten in each other's dirt. She is my friend, for better, for worse and forever.

We've practically raised our children together. Her four, my four...one big pile 'o kids. We sure got a lot of looks when we went out together with our clans. We just smiled and kept walking while they were still counting....

I think that's one of the hardest parts of her leaving....that I won't get to see her kids grow up first hand anymore. Pictures are great, but there is nothing like having a front row seat to all their changes. I was thinking, next time I see them, her youngest, Jack, won't even know who I am! I practically birthed him!!! (Maybe a slight exaggeration..)

So, I'm sad. Tearfully sad.

My sadness is mixed with milk-squirting-out-your-nose laughter, because the memories of Jenni and her crew will keep me giggling for a lifetime.

Look out Bel Air....you have no idea what you are in for.

Hackers...who are these people?

2007-08-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

Can someone please tell me what is up with "hackers?" I just don't get it. Recently, my "myspace" account was hacked into for the second time in a year and a half. The first time, they posted a "hot singles...click here" bulletin. I got a lot of very concerned responses from friends.....and some offers from strangers, but that is another story. This time, it was a ringtones download thing. I don't even know what that means.

I've been told that when this happens, you need to change your password because someone has "hacked into" your account.

Who in the world has the time to "hack into" anything? Seriously? What is their motive... is it a job? Is there a "hackers" section in the unemployment want adds???? Is it people who are bored and have nothing else to do? Because I can think of few things for them to occupy their time if they're looking for suggestions!

I just want to see a profile on these people. I need a visual. Until then, I've come up with my own guesses:

1. People who don't date

2. Anyone with more than 5 cats

3. Excessive sweaters

4. Wear socks with flip flops

5. Live in their parent's basement.... over the age of 35

6. Kids on break from band camp with nothing else to do until Spacecamp

I'm just asking for a demographic description. That's all... just give me a picture. I might hire them for something.... Because I can't seem to find the time to shave my legs...and they seem to have all the time in the world to tinker with the computer. Maybe they can teach me some time managment skills?

I'm open to suggestions. I want to learn. Help me.. help you. Anyone?

ROCK ON!

2007-08-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I flew out to Bend, Oregon to climb Smith Rocks for an "It" Moms segment.

Ok.. there are a few really cool things about that last sentence:

1. "I flew out to Bend.." My super studly husband is a pilot, you see....which means I get to be chauffered around the skies playing "co-pilot" to my hottie. What would take hours by car, takes only minutes by plane..... And the view... the view is simply breathtaking! There is no better window seat from which to gaze out and take in our amazing state of Oregon. I am so spoiled!

2. Next part:"....to climb Smith Rocks." Ok, Smith Rocks are a world class climbing destination! There are over 1500 climbing routes in and around the park ranging from some of the best sport climbs in the world!! I've lived in Oregon my whole life, and have never had the pleasure of taking this challenge... I'm SO glad I finally got the opportunity to "tap the rock." Spoiled.

3. And the last cool part of that sentence is: "...for an "It" Moms segment." This will sound like bragging, I apologize.....but I just can't help it! I get to do the stinkin' coolest things for my job! I worked in an office, people. I suffered the creativity-sucking existence of a desk job for 6 years BK. I almost died. (that might be a slight exaggeration.....) But seriously, hanging off the side of a rock feels much more comfortable to me than filing papers and staring at a computer screen for hours. That....was scary.

Not only do I get to do the most amazing things as part of my "job" but I get to work with the most amazing team as well! Marni and Brian are the best co-workers a gal could ever hope to have. I am, again, very spoiled.

OH, and here's Brian flying the plane home....until I got freaked out and told Scott to take the controls back when it was time to land!

Our guide on the spectacular day was Jim Ablao, with Chockstone Climbing Guides! I know it's very cliche', but THIS GUY ROCKED! He was so good! He was skilled, patient, and calm. Good qualities in someone holding your life in his hands! And.... he laughed at our jokes. Bonus.

I lost my footing at one point and slipped.... I think I might have declared my love for him on accident. You know...a "thanks for not letting me fall to my death" kind of love.

What a day, what a memory. I recommend this guide, this rock, this adventure. Beats pushing papers any day!

She's WHAT??!!!!!

2007-08-03T12:37:00.001-07:00

Many of you have inquired about Sparkle Tangerine.... It seems no one is really interested in my life, so here is the sad, shameful and TRUE story as the saga continues.....

Sparkle gave birth to her 6 kittens on Mother's Day. Much to our surprise (please read previous posts) inside my daughter's closet. We were able to find good homes for 5 of the kitties, and in a moment of weakness, my husband told Reilly she could keep one for her own pet.

Please say "hay" to Ashley Boo Boo Bottom Of The Wind Resnick! The chosen child of Sparkle's womb.

Ok, now fastforward to last week, when I took the two cats to the vet to have them.. uh hem...."taken care of..." You know, that special proceedure that keeps them from populating the neighborhood. Ok, first of all note that I said, "I took them to the vet." Uh... I don't have a vet, because I don't have pets....(I'm still in denial!) So, I called the "free clinic" and they gave me a coupon for a vet that honors the spay/neuter act or something like that. Yes.. because I am cheap...I wanted a deal.

Let me just say, stuffing a practically wild animal into a carrier was no easy task. Fur was flying....She used every available limb to ensure that the capture was impossible. I'm like shoving her head and her bum at the same time yelling at the girls to pry her claws off the side of the cage. Nice...I'm sure she really trusts me now.

We finally got her in, latched the door and placed her into the back of the car.I'm sweating, the kids are covered in hair, and Sparkle and Ashley are traumatized. Perfect state of mind for pre-op! Then...as if that wasn't bad enough, Sparkle busted out! In the car.... and I began screaming, "shut the door, don't let her out! Grab her leg.....contain the situation!!!!!!"

After wrestling with this poor FREAKED out cat for another 10 minutes... I won. Take down, 2 points... I needed a shot of something, but I won.

When we dropped off our little kittes I yelled after them, "Don't worry, Mommy bought you some kitty percoset, you'll be fine!" After all, I'm not heartless! I was told that the meds would last 5 days. I asked if I could have some. They said, "no."

When I went to pick them up that afternoon... a deep dred set in. I fearfully asked, "She couldn't be pregnant again, could she?" The doctor came strolling into the reception area right at that moment and he said, ever so casually, "Sparkle? 5 kittens."

"Hmmm... uh... pardon? What? Did you say she's IS pregnant!!!?????"

"5 Kittens." And then he was gone.....without a care of what he had just done to my life.

(Turning to Sparkle, I fell to the floor.) "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sparkle! You HUSSY!! While I was watching your babies.. you were off trolling the hood again???!! Didn't we talk about this? Have you learned NOTHING???"

She looked at me, stoned out of her mind on percoset and drooled. Apparnetly not.

SO..........Once again...... Anyone want a free kitten? Or 5?

Call me.

When my people pray.....

2007-07-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

This is my beautiful friend, Julie Reid. If any of you have ever met an angel, you would know what I'm talking about.... Julie Reid is an angel of God. She is the most encouraging, loving, nurturing woman I've ever known....she is who you call when you really, really need someone to help you through something.... And she always does.

My sweet friend Julie suffered a major heart attack last Thursday the 26th while on vacation in Chicago with her family.

A heart attack! Talk about crazy! She is very young, and very healthy. The doctors said she has a rare heart defect called Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery. This is the stealth heart condition that kills athletes on the basketball court out of nowhere. It is a miracle that they were able to catch this in time. But that is how God is with his angels.... miraculous!

Julie is scheduled for open heart surgery tomorrow morning at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. She is in good hands.

Please join me in praying for my friend Julie tomorrow, Monday July 30th... for her surgery, for her husband and three daughters, and for God to keep his angel safe and strong.

We love you so much, Jules! And our hearts are with yours.....

My Best Friend's Wedding

2007-07-24T21:03:00.001-07:00

No, Silly, not the movie with Julia Roberts, it really was my best friend's wedding! My dear friend, Erin, got married Saturday to the man of her dreams. That's something every girl wants for her friends, a happily ever after, right?! Yep, and I do believe she has found her prince charming.

The festivities began the night before at the Alexis Restaurant in downtown Portland. Extremely yummy food... I highly recommend it. We were a little too early for the belly dancer, but we provided our own interpretations....so no one was dissapointed. The bride posse' consisted of Laurie, Jeannine and myself. As we are blond, brunette and redhead, we named ourselves: Summer, Winter and Autumn Barbie. See picture below in our pretty pink Barbie bridesmaid dresses.

The wedding was at the Indian Creek Golf Course in Hood River, OR.
BREATHTAKING view of Mt. Hood as the back drop to the ceremony. Erin asked me to sing a little "diddy" that I wrote called "Now and Forever." I was actually so happy, I didn't feel a stitch of nerves the whole time. (Bonus!)

The weather was perfectly hazy, no bright sun, no harsh wind, and no rain. Miraculous in our moody state.

Erin was gorgeous, and Chris broke everyone's heart when he tearfully read his own vows. He really loves my girl. Ahhhh... God is good.

Congratulations Chris and Erin on your amazing day!

www.parents.tv

2007-07-14T16:22:00.001-07:00

Hey Friends!!!!
It's been a while.... Just a quick note to tell you of the latest development with work! Our company, Meredith Corporation, has launched another website in connection with all their parenting magazines: American Baby, Parents, Family Circle and more! The site is called: Parents.tv (clever...)

When you go to the home page, click in the upper right hand corner where it says: "What is Parents TV? Click here to find out." You'll see MARNI AND I as the HOSTS!!!!! Aparently they saw our maturity and wanted us to "represent."

The "It" Moms are a pretty significant part of the site and we are really excited for the future!

Check out the site and click on the "It" Moms channel 80 times a day or so... We need the hits! Ha...

More later!
Holly

I Love My Job!

2007-06-19T21:37:00.001-07:00

Let's just call this one of the "perks" of my new career. Last Friday night, I got to go hang out with my favorite singer/songwriter, Jonatha Brooke! We were at the Aladdin Theater to shoot a segment at her concert! Now, a little history: Jonatha Brooke has been in my CD player for over 11 years. When my husband and I courted.. it was to The Story's "The Angel In The House." Fast forward to last Friday night, and I was actually back stage with her and the band. Not possible. Somebody pinch me!

Marni and I wanted to do an "It" Mom segment that encourages moms to seek out and pursue music that inspires them. For some reason when our kids get old enough to enjoy music, we stop buying it for ourselves. Example: The last two CD's I've purchased were, Hannah Montana and Hillary Duff. Nothing against these teenagers, but they don't really do "it" for me.

The show was amazing, of course, the band rocked, Jonatha was...well, Jonatha, for heaven's sake!.... but the best part was just getting to hang out with her. We did a quick interview with her about how she writes, where she gets her inspiration, and what she loves about performing live that was incredible! Marni was in tears when she played us a little of the song, "So Much Mine." I was mush. Totally in awe of this talented person that I now call my BFF. People kept asking if we were sisters, and I was suddenly 13 and giddy. I might have geeked out just a little.....

So... the segment will air locally soon, but it will also be on the better.tv website if you want to check it out in about 2 weeks. We got some great video of the conert as well as the interview I told you about.

Jonatha's newest CD, "Careful What You Wish For" is amazing. Get it. You heard me... I said get it! I'm not gonna be nice about it.

Dreams really do come true... Seriously, I told you I geeked out....

Rock on....

Leaving Las Vegas

2007-05-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

Another awesome trip to Las Vegas for "work." We (a team from Meredith Video Solutions) made our trek to the desert to finish the kitchen and bath special we started earlier this year. The shoot took place at KBIS, the super bowl of home design trade shows! Lots of cool things to see....sadly, none of which are seen in my own home, but I was definitely inspired.

I got to meet and hang out with Jill Cordes, an amazingly talented chick from HGTV and the Food network. She is definately a pro, and it was fun to watch her work. More importantly, she is hyterical and totally down to earth, and we are now bff. Sweet.

Also part of the star studded cast was Jason Feinberg. He was great to work with as well! Being farely new to this whole tv thing, I learned a lot just by observing. Unfortunately, Jason was in the throws of a family crisis at the time......His cat had some sort of butt problem and needed surgery the next day. I was trying with all my strength to hide my disqust and laughter as he described in detail the condition. Honestly, I really do hope it all went well and the patient got plenty of kitty vicodin.

Our same little make-up/hair stylist was there, Miss Suzie...she did an awesome job once again of making us look like glam models. (only shorter and not so thin....)

This NATIONAL show is close to airing and I'm REALLY EXCITED! Here's the scoop on where, when, and what stations will be broadcasting it:

New York:
WABC on 6/30 at 1:30pm
LA:
KABC on 6/17 at 12:30pm
Chicago:
WLS on 6/2 at 4:30pm
Dallas:
KTVT on 7/1 at 12:00pm
Minneapolis:
KSTP on 6/9 at 2pm
Portland:
KPTV on 6/24 at 6pm and KPDX on 6/10 at 2pm
Indianapolis:
WRTV on 6/16 at 3pm

It will also be on the www.better.tv website under the icon SHOWS as of 7/24.

Check it out... it's actually quite fabulous.....and my first national project! Yay!

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

I am a Grandmother. Mother's Day morning I walked into the girls room to find Sparkle Tangerine Marie Of the Wind Resnick in the girl's closet with 6 new kittens. Six. In case you missed that, I said SIX!

Let me tell the story. You see, it's not a normal occurance that we have a cat that has kittens in our closet. It's not normal that we have a cat. (see previous posts...) Since this cat came to us one day uninvited, she has never been allowed inside our house. She is free to come and go as she chooses. We feed her, we pet her. No strings attached. I am not heartless, however, so when she turned up pregnant, I made her a nice home in our shed. Carpet, pillows, blankets, etc.... practically a kitty hotel. So, at night, we would shut her in the shed so that she couldn't get out and nothing could get in. We have a lot of racoons around our house, and we worried about her after dark. The eve before Mother's Day, we put her inside the shed and put a brick up against the door as usual, said good-night and we all went to bed.

This CRAZY cat pushed the door open, brick and all, climbed up on the roof, scratched and ate her way through the girl's screen window, WHILE IN LABOR, and had 6 kittens in the wee hours of the morning.

TALK ABOUT DETERMINATION! I am now so in love with this cat... I could never make her live outside again! She is a rock-star. She is my hero. She had a birth plan! No brick, screen, racoon or second story house was going to keep her from having those kittens inside, right where she wanted to have them!
As you can imagine, the kids are THRILLED! And Sparkle... I have NEVER heard a cat pur that loudly. She is like, "THANK GOD! It is finished!"
She sleeps most of the day... Wouldn't you if you just had 6 children??!! And we (Scott and I) are getting used to the fact that we have a cat... no, we have 7 cats. Seeing the kids faces every time they look at the mommy kitty and her babies almost makes it worth it. Almost.

So...... seriously.... who wants a kitten? It's take one, get one free.

Sparkle is knocked up!

2007-05-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, you heard right. Sparkle is knocked up. That little hussy is now "in the family way." I am going to be a grandmother for what looks like 12 kittens inside her very round tummy. Just think, 6 months ago I was a happy, non pet owning mom. And now, I am the "cat lady."

For those of you who don't know who Sparkle Tangerine Marie Of The Wind Resnick is... please see previous post. She came to us one day and adopted our family...but it's clear to us now, she has a past.

She waddles around our house and yard looking strangley familiar and I cannot help but feel TERRIBLE for her!

Check out the aerial view. This Kitty is filling out and riding low. She looks at me with a miserable
expression that says, "HELP ME, WOMAN! I AM STINKIN' HUGE!" Oh, sister, I have been there.

So, two obvious and immediate problems I need help with:

1. "I don't know nothin' about birthin' no kittens, Miss Scarlet!"

and

2. Who wants a kitten?

Pinch Me!

2007-04-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

I got to meet one of my idols! It kind of makes me tinkle. Unfortunately, the only proof is this picture where it looks like I have no neck and dentures... Sad, but you take what you can get.

Let me tell the story...
Aparently, it really IS all who you know. My friend, Amanda, is a fabulous actress in NY....like most New York actresses, she also has a day job. She is a yoga instructor and teaches classes in between auditions and acting jobs. One of her students is Jonatha Brooke. For those of you who live under a rock, Jonatha Brooke is a brilliant singer/songwriter who's music captured my soul when I stumbled onto her 11 or so years ago. Yep... my friend is calling out downward dog to J-Bro. Not a bad gig.

To make a long story painfully longer than it needs to be.... Amanda gave me the scoop that Jonatha was going to be in Portland this week. So.... I did what I had to do to get to NW Music Millennium in the middle of rush-hour traffic. I sped and yelled at people. It worked, because I made it.. only a few minutes late.

She was spectacular! Jonatha has the most incredible stage presence of anyone I've ever known. She has this way of seducing the audience...men and women alike.... You cannot take your eyes off of her and you are hanging on every beautifully written word. She is a poet. Her new CD, "Careful What You Wish For" is another masterpiece. My favorite song is "Prodigal Daughter". PLEASE... check it out and buy it! You will be a believer.

Ok.. enough of the sales pitch... back to me and meeting my idol.

So... I'm standing there in line with all the other freaky fan types. You know who I'm talking about... dudes with the "I could eat you" expression on their faces. People who hope she'll drop a pick so they can live. Girls singing every word of every song (oh wait... that's me. shoot.) Die hard groopies. Ok... so there I am in line and I'm fine... until there is only 2 people left in front of me...

Without warning, all the saliva leaves my mouth. It's like a drought. Inside I'm thinking, "No...come on honey...be cool. Don't geek out.. be cool... you're cool... stay cool..." Uh... no such luck. My tongue started to swell.

What is that about?! Why do we get so ridiculously star-struck?

I guess it's because these people truly have a powerful impact on us in some way or another... through a song, a lyric....a breathless note that penetrates our soul. And we start to think of them as super human, when really what makes them so intoxicating is their ability to creatively express the undeniable similarities in every human heart. Their lyrics merely reflect a vulnerable humanity inside us all... and we come alive when we hear it expressed by another soul....

Back to the line... It's my turn to speak now...and I manage to get out, "Hi.. I'm Holly. Amanda's friend."

What happened next could only be explained as super-natural..... She.... was excited... to meet..... ME! (She will probably hate this picture... but I needed to show the "glee" in her face to prove the previous sentence. Sorry jb)

I don't know what Amanda told her about me... but she treated me as a dear friend. So gracious. So sweet. Gave me two t-shirts and took the picture at the top of the page. Yeah... I'm pretty sure we are gonna be best friends. (She said with a "stalker-like" quality in her voice.... )

JUST KIDDING! But it was very cool. One of the coolest moments of my life. She's coming back in June to the Aladdin Theater and I'm gonna make sure I'm there....t-shirt on.... rock fist high in the air.....Everything minus the " I could eat you" face. That's just not right.

Rock on...

Just A Red-headed Step Child

2007-03-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yep.... that's me, I was a red-headed step child. I found some pictures from my childhood, and thought I'd take you all on a walk down memory lane.
This is my sister, Angie and I at the Japanese Gardens in Portland. I was pretty much attached to my sister's hip most of my childhood. She was 3 years older than me and extremely cool. I never wanted her to leave my side. When I say never....I am not exaggerating. Early co-dependency. I remember starting the 3rd grade at a new school and CRYING my eyes out when she walked me to class and left me there. She was a mature sixth grader, you see, and needed to get to her class and begin her reign of coolness. Still... she left me. Sniff.....I'm over it now, though....sniff, sniff.

As you can see, we were well dressed. Recently I was live on the MORE show in Las Vegas and the question of the day was, "What was the worst outfit you can remember wearing as a child." My answer was, "a polyester stars and stripes number." Well... Here it is, people! Odd, actually, since my parents were hippies, that they were rockin' the patriotic look on their offspring, but what-ev. And naturally, my sis is sportin' the awesome pimp coat. Ah... you gotta love being a child of the seventies. Apparently, anything goes. The hot babe in the middle is my grandma, Irene Johnson. She had a wonderful assortment of wigs and leisure suits that Angie and I played with as well.

This is the only time in a girls life, when it's "cute" to have little dimples showing underneath your dress when you sit "criss-cross-applesauce." Uh....as you get older, the cute thing goes away....grown ups are much less forgiving of that sort of thing. Bummer.

I think this is my all-time, favorite picture of me as a child. I'm sitting on the lap of my step-grandma, Phyllis Buskers. Look at me. I'm a rock-star! I'm sort of dancing to the beat of my own drum here. My sister is totally doing the "proper" child pose. But me.... no way. I imagine I was like, "Let's party, MICHIGAN!!!! ... do you guys know how to limbo? Make me another Shirley Temple, Gramps!"

You know.... childhood is full of good and bad. I certainly have some stories, but these pictures show that through it all, there were times when I was ok, maybe even happy. Just like now, I think I'm happiest when I can just be myself. A little weird... a little "off".... and not afraid to sit "criss-cross-applesause!"

Rock on!

What is an "It" Mom?

2007-03-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

This logo kills me.. it's hysterical! But that is another blog...

Ok, so, the "It" Moms are a little over a year old now! I would have never guessed that the project that started as an experiment has become something incredibly near and dear to my heart! Marni and I share a love for moms and a desire to encourage their health and well-being. We are thrilled to be a part of something positive that gives moms a little boost of inspiration and laughter every now and then.
So, as I was reflecting on the year, I wrote down these thoughts... Blessings to all the "It" Moms out there!

What IS an “It” Mom?
By Holly Resnick

I know what you’re thinking…but don’t worry! It’s not a look, a style, an attitude, and income level or a dress size! Nope, there is no special club or elite standard you have to meet to be an “It” Mom. Just by being a mom who loves her children, you are automatically an “It” Mom.

As moms, we are everything to our families: comforter, friend, nurse, referee, chef, maid, coach, fan, teacher, shoulder to cry on and much, much more. Simply put, you are “IT!”

When we become mothers, something inside changes, and yes, for the better! We no longer live solely for ourselves and our own success, but our focus becomes the blessed task of helping these precious lives we helped create become healthy, happy, whole little people. That is about as “it” as it gets!

An important part of raising healthy kids is to make sure that we keep ourselves healthy as well. Remember, our children watch EVERYTHING we do! They see if we are happy, they see if we are healthy, they see if we are whole and they will model a life that we show them to live.

An “It” Mom is someone who makes sure she is thriving as a woman in order that she may thrive as a mom. Life after baby only gets better if we keep in mind that our life does not end when our child’s begins. Our body, mind and spirit are essential to the health of the entire family. After all, “Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

What is the “It” Mom remedy for success? A steady dose of laughter, learning, creativity, activity, new experiences, growth and dream chasing will cure the ailments of any mom who might find herself in a rut. With this kind of life balance, she’s able to juggle the never-ending needs of her family, and still nurture the wonderful individual she was created to be.

So, how does she do it? Baby steps, of course! Just start by taking a little time each day to be still and listen to your heart and body telling you what it needs. Even if the answers seem outrageous, listen and take it in. Then, share your thoughts, dreams and goals with trusted friends. Mothers are a community that thrives on the support and encouragement of one another. These women will be your cheering section and sounding board for all the ups and downs on this incredible journey.

What’s next? GO FOR IT! Try something new. Reach a little past that mushy comfort zone and challenge yourself. Add a new dimension to your life and just see how it feels. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from a new experience that will enrich your life. Free yourself to make mistakes and pepper everything with tons of laughter! Life can be so serious and our role as mothers can be the most intense of all. We need to get rid of the June Cleaver “image of perfection” that

holds all of us hostage from looking a little more like Lucille Ball every now and then!

“It” Moms, our glory days are now! This is the time we should be living life to the fullest! Now, when the little ones in our care are watching our example. Live, love, laugh, change a few diapers, clean the toilet, go bungee jumping and laugh some more. But by all means, mommies, LIVE well! This is your legacy. Don’t miss out on your adventure! YOU are “IT!”

What Happens In Vegas....

2007-03-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

Viva!

I just got back from Las Vegas. This was my maiden voyage to Sin City. Seeing as how I have never even so much as bought a lottery ticket in my entire life, the idea of gambling escapes me. I don't get it. But we'll get more into that later....

I went to Vegas for work. Yes... work. I headed down with a crew from KPTV/Meredith to shoot a special on the Kitchen and Bath show they are hosting in May. I will be a co-host along with Jason Feinberg of E! and the Las Vegas Morning show, and Jill Cordes from HGTV and the Food Network. Check these peeps out, they are pretty cool. I'm looking forward to working with them on this project! I'm going back again in May for the actual event! I'm practically a world traveler now! Yeah, baby!

Traveling is always fun because you get to meet new people. One of my favorite things! I met many of the editors for the Meredith magazines. They are incredibly talented, amazing, creative and fun people! I also got to meet these two cuties who were my make-up and hair stylists for the shoot. This is Susie and Channel... The blond, Channel is 10 days away from being an "It" Mom! She was the cutest little pregnant gal in the world. Susie is a mom of two and you'd never know it! She is quite possibly the most adorable woman I've ever met! They made me look like a movie star and we laughed so much they had to keep re-applying my eye make-up! Thanks girls!

So, if I'm being honest... my favorite part of the trip was being able to sleep in my own bed in my own room!!! Hey... who's with me??? No one came in asking for milk in the middle of the night... no one came in to say "my tummy hurts", no one asked me for anything... uh hem... if you know what I mean! I slept like a Mommy. I know the term is "sleep like a baby" but if you are a mommy, you know that is the biggest lie of all time! So... I slept like a Mommy...drool on the pillow and all!

Vegas is a hoot! Lots of lights, flashy things and sassaphrass... The people watching is priceless and the shopping is out of this world! There are generous little people trying to give you all kinds of flyers and "coupons" on the street ( huh?) And of course, a lot of drinking and gambling. So, since I'm pretty much a two glasses MAX kind of gal...and like I mentioned earlier, not a gambler, I'm not sure I would be a perpetual visitor to the strip.

Of course, when in Vegas....... So, I tried a slot machine. Not once did I see anyone get any money out of one of these little glorified video machines, but I figured I'd better try anyway. Maybe I'd be "the one!" My producer gave me five dollars to put into the slot. I pushed a few buttons, saw a few numbers spin around and in a flash it was over... the $5 was gone and we were on our way. Good times. I guess "the one" will have to be someone else.

The morning we left, my producer took me into the local Fox 5 station to meet and mingle with our sister station in Vegas . Before I knew it I was being wired with a mic and they threw me on their live MORE show with Jason, Monica and Rachel for the "question of the day." I was a total dork (no big shock) but they were hysterical and fun!

All in all.. it was an awesome trip! I go back in May and can't wait to do it all over again. ESPECIALLY....the drool on the pillow part!

Apparently.....we have a cat.

2007-01-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

As a mother of 4 children, let's just say, I am not a "pet person." I think I used to be a "pet person" when I was young. (Which really means: when I was young and my parents were the ones who cared for my pets, yes, then, you could say, I was a "pet person.") But now that I am in charge of the feeding and bathroom habits of 4 little people, adding something else that poops and pees to my house sounds like an absolute nightmare. The closest we've come in the past 10 years to having pets is: 2 fish, 4 frogs (minus one....bless his soul) and some birds that lived in our chimney for a while....but their mom fed them and eventually they flew away.

So, how did we recently "adopt" this cat???? I have no idea... I need to review the tapes and go over the notes, but we definately have a cat. I actually went to Target and bought her a little kitty bed. I've purchased food for her for about 3 months now, and add it to the grocery list when it starts getting low. When I say "she" it's because I believe this is a girl kitty. You see, I'm not exactly sure. I am not too keen on the idea of getting close enough to her business to find out one way or the other, so...we're going with "she." In fact, we've actually named her. Are you ready for this???? Here it is:

SPARKLE TANGERINE MARIE OF THE WIND RESNICK

Yes... she's a redhead (probably what finally won over Scott...hee-hee)and she's here to stay. She literally showed up on our back porch one day and never left. My mom always told me, "don't feed 'em or they won't go away." So, for a long time I just ignored her. I thought she'd eventually go back to her "real mom." I started to realize that she wasn't leaving, and she was getting pretty thin. The guilt set in and I broke down and gave her the only thing I could find that resembled food for a cat: gourmet tuna. She was pretty happy. She licked the bowl for 3 days.

5 Bags of catfood later, It's becoming more apparent that she's not going anywhere. Since we aren't ready for an indoor committment, she's got to be an outdoor cat. Problem is, IT'S FREEZING outside in Oregon right now. So, my "cat-hating-husband" went to the store and bought her a "warming light" and a box so she could snuggle up right outside our door during these cold nights.

First night... She was in heaven... It seemed like a good idea.....UNTIL...

We got up the next morning and went to check on her. She was not in the box. There was, however, a large burn hole in her bed. I can only imagine it must have gone something like this:

Me: "Night Sparkle... sleep good."
Sparkle: "Purrrrrr. Wow.. this is so warm. These people really love me."
(hours later)
Sparkle: "Sniff, sniff... Do you smell something? It's getting kind of warm in here. Sniff, sniff..."
(Next day)
Me: "Here kitty, kitty... Where is she?"
(Traumatized cat hiding in the near-by bushes)
Sparkle: "I'll never trust again."

Uh...I didn't say we were ready to be pet owners. Remember, she chose us......

SNOW DAY!

2007-01-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

We have snow! We woke up this morning to about 3 inches of snow covering the ground. No school, of course, which means it's time for mom to dig out all the "snow gear."

Now, in Oregon, you only get to use "snow gear" every 5 years unless you go up to the mountain, so I had to work with what we had. All the bibs and snow pants were size 4T and below, so we had to improvise. Gloves... same deal. We have "pretty", cloth gloves for the cold, but not water proof, actually made for the snow gloves. My kids looked like a yard sale mix-matched bunch of happy ghetto eskimos!
They played, threw snow balls, made snow angels, a snowman, and got major snotty noses. Everything was perfect! Everything a snow day should be.
Until it was time to come in. Why is it they can play out there in the freezing cold for hours with glee and smiles...and then when you're taking off all the wet clothes, shoes and hats, everybody starts melting down and crying about how cold and yucky they feel? Hm? What?

It's in that moment when all four are crying and complaining that I, for one second, hate snow days! Fortunately, there won't be another one for 4 years, so I can work it out by then and try to buy some new "snow gear" in the meantime.

Oh, my sister lives in Alaska... She called this morning and I told her today was a snow day and she laughed at me. Everyone in her family not only owns up-to-date "snow gear", but they own snow shoes, ice-skates and ski's. I'd just be happy with gloves that fit.

Enjoy the snow!

Worth Every Mile

2007-01-14T16:22:00.000-08:00

Just how far would you go for good pizza? Ok, so how about for good friends? Apparently, we'd go to all the way to Vancouver, which might as well be Cuba from where we live.

You see, our very good friend Matt
was having a birthday and his FAVORITE pizza place is in Vancouver, Washington. So... a bunch of us made the trek out to the "Couv" to celebrate his special day.

Matt's favorite menu selection is the meat-lover's combo called the "hefty ho." This name made for endless jokes and remarks, all of which should not be posted. I'm told that after eating this pizza, one gets the "meat sweats." This was confirmed by a newcomer to the dish when I saw her today, the morning after. Yes, Jenni,
said her experience with the "hefty ho" was one she will never forget. Not for the faint of heart or faint of any other organs...

Yes, the pizza was great. Yes, the drive was long. But the thing I am most aware of after this night is that I have an amazing group of friends in my life. Everyone wants "that group" that you will grow old with. Your kids grow up with their kids and they all call you Auntie. You can be yourself around this group of friends and know that they will always have your back. They make you laugh and together you face the challenges of life that make you cry. These are the people who will pray for your marriage, help raise your kids and pick you up when you are down.

So, the drive to the "Couv", pizza, drinks and video games = $50 bucks. Spending time with "that group" when you get there = worth every mile!

Too Much?

2007-01-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Today was "red" day at pre-school.

Is this over the top? (Underwear were red, too.) I guess I'm making up for all the "color" days where I totally forgot! It's a little awkward when your kid shows up in green and white stripes and the rest of the class is in yellow. Even at 3 yrs old, they know something's up. "One of these things is not like the other...." And you get the sad "oh's" and looks of pitty from the teacher and other moms. It's.. uh, not good.

He does look like a cute little Rashneesh, though.....

Happy Red Day! I'll let you know how Green Day turns out.....wish me luck!

Urban Gig

2007-01-08T20:36:00.000-08:00

Had a gig at Urban Rhythms Coffee Company last Saturday night. Good times...We recently got new sound equipment. (And when I say "we", I mean Aaron, my drummer, bought it and I act like it's mine, too.) The gear is amazing, but we are still learning to use it, tweak it, dial it in. (Again with the "we.") The potential for this gear, is amazing! I cannot stress how much quality gear changes your entire sound! It is SO IMPORTANT not to use crappy gear! I'm psyched! So, thanks Aaron, for making the investment, and letting me mooch and tag along for the ride!

Over-all, I believe it was a relatively good night. I am my worst critic, so I won't go into painful detail at how many mistakes I think I made, because it really doesn't matter, right? It's not perfection we strive towards, it's expression.

Carl Johnson, my guitarist, brought his lovely wife, Elizabeth and their TWIN 8 month old boys: Jack and Keenan for the first time to a gig. We played an original song Carl wrote for Elizabeth and she got to hear it come to life for the first time. Very cool.

Best part by far was all the friends and family who came out to support me/us. You guys rock! Mean it!
It's a strange thing... inviting people to come hear you sing. It's like, "Hey, come listen to me...uh, sing. Look at me... I'm singing...la de da." Feels almost embarrassing to anyone other than my mom. My mom would crash a stranger's wedding if she knew I were singing at it! (Seriously, she is the ULTIMATE supportive parent!) But for everyone else, those who didn't give birth to me, thank you for coming out to lend your time, support and love. I just want you to know that it means a lot! A real big lot! Ok, I'll stop before I get too mushy. Sniff....

Love you all! I'll try to give a heads up before my next gig, incase anyone else wants to get in on the love fest....

40,000 Viewers... No big woop.

2006-12-29T18:46:00.000-08:00

Ok... so last Thursday morning, I co-hosted the More show with Andy Carson.

DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID? I totally co-hosted an hour long, top-rated morning show with a local celebrity!!! It makes me tinkle a little. Me! Stay at home mom for the last 10 years...anchored a TV show! That's a little bit cool, right? Maybe it's just me...

So, let me just explain something....I am not a fan of public speaking. No, not a fan! I hated speech class, toastmasters, book reports, all of it! I sing regularly for thousands of people and I must admit, it is not a comfortable thing. I get up there, smile like I'm just fine, but inside my mind and body are screaming, "GET OUT OF HERE, YOU FOOL! RUN! HIDE! YOU ARE GOING TO TRIP, BURP, TOOT, CRACK, SOMETHING THAT WILL HUMILIATE YOU! SAVE YOURSELF, MAN! RUN! FOR THE LOVE OF..." Well, something like that... But no, I stay, sing and usually survive. You see, God likes to push my comfort zone. If God is asking me to do something, I just do it. I step out over the ledge and jump. No questions asked. All but one, "help me through it?" And...he always does.

That has been the case throughout this entire rollercoaster ride of "TV land." So, when I got the call to fill in and host the More show, I said, "Yes!" (gulp) Sure, no problem, I'd love to, right? Minus that whole terror thing, it's a great opportunity.

It was! I was extremely nervous for the first 3 minutes or so, so bad that my face was quivering when I smiled and my mouth was so dry I needed a saliva transplant, but.... then it went away! It was fun. I mean, really FUN! "I want to do it again" kind of fun!

Props to Andy who made me laugh the whole time.

He made me feel supported, sane and worthy of being there. You rock, AC!

What a rush! What a cool experience to add to my life. I loved it! One small step for one mom, one giant leap for "Mom-kind." Live your dreams, Mommies! Let your glory days be now! Feel the fear and keep going...even when your lip gets stuck on your dry teeth. Quiver and smile! God's got your back!

Coveting.... I Miss Mexico!

2006-12-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

My good friend, Jenni, is in Mexico for her 10 year anniversary right now. I've been reading her blogs and her hubbie's blog, and I am extremely jealous! It's amazing how Mexican vacations all look the same from the outside. Tropical, warm and crazy fun! The picture above was the view from our room when Scott and I celebrated our 10 year this past June.

We stayed in Nuevo Vallarta at the Mayan Sea Gardens. This was the first trip we've taken together since our honeymoon! Although it was only 5 months ago, it seems like a lifetime has past! We had such a good time, we dream about going back. We'd love to go at least once a year when I get rich and famous (What? It could happen!)Well... hopefully it won't be another 10 years anyways.

I had to write about this so I could share a picture of Jenni on her trip.

Now, this looks like a woman who's embracing the culture and attitude of a Mexican vacation. Jenni is the one holding the ENORMOUS coconut drink. Don't judge, she, too, has four children and this is her first getaway with Matt in 10 years as well.

So.. just to share a similar pic from my trip:

Yes, I was lying on railroad tracks... They must put crazy sauce in the tacos.

Congratulations, Jenni and Matt! Jen, you kill me! Live it up kids, enjoy every second!

Adios!

I Hate To Be Cold...But I'm All About Free Love!

2006-12-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

Oh, the weather outside is frightful! Getting mighty cold here in the Northwest! I have to say, I absolutely HATE TO BE COLD! I'd move somewhere tropic, but next to cold, I hate to be hot. So...I whine, put on bulky sweaters, several pairs of socks, crank the heat and tough it out.

Scott and I had a chance to get away for the weekend without the kids (very rare), so we decided to embrace the cold and head east! We drove down the Gorge along the beautiful Columbia River to The Dalles. We met up with Victor Johnson (Scott's best bud from childhood) to rehearse for a Christmas gig he and I are playing at the Sunriver Lodge on December 23rd. (Victor is an awesome guitarist, singer, songwriter extraordinare! You should check him out, he's got a few really great kids albums that have seen much success!)

Next we stopped off in Hood River at another friend's art gallery, Westwind Frame and Gallery to see their new shop. Amazing place... Boy, we've got some talented and artistic friends! I really love Hood River. If it wasn't so far away from everything but the wind, we might consider living there. It's a cool town, full of wind-surfers and "northwesty" peeps. Very "hip Oregon."

We had reservations at Skamania Lodge, and we checked in at 4:00pm. Just the walk from the loading zone to the front desk almost killed me. You see, the wind chill factor is unreal in the Gorge. It actually hurts me an makes me scream. I develop instant tourette's! It's not good. We're talking crazy cold.

We checked out our room and it was quite cozy. I CRANKED the heat and made Scott go get all the bags and park the car. I'm the girl, that's how it works. Don't be mad... I had to deliver 4 children. I think we're even.

We wandered the lodge feeling 4 children light and free, and really enjoyed being out of the city and by ourselves. Saw a 70 something woman get handcuffed and hauled off by the fuzz. Not sure what that was about, but we were on our best behavior after that!

Dinner was amazing! We shared (because we're old and cheap!) the filet mignon and lobster tail entree, with sauteed shrimp on the side. YUM! We ate like kings! My stomach, however, called for a coup d'etat! (In case you were wondering...:

Main Entry: coup d'etat
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: seizure
Synonyms: coup, overthrow, palace revolution, power play, putsch, rebellion, revolt, revolution, takeover)

Yep...that's pretty much right on. But, it was worth it.

A cute woman who worked there approached me during dinner and said, "I LOVE YOU!" Not something you hear every day from a stranger, but I'm all about free love, so I said, "Thank you." She then explained that she loves the "It" Momsand watches us all the time! How cool is that... we have a fan in Washington!

We decided to put on the big fluffy white robes in our closet and head down to the hot tub for a dip after dinner. I figured with the bubbles in the tub, no one would know if I made my own. (heee! I can't believe I just wrote that! I'm not deleting it, either!)

The next morning... I slept in. This is something I love more than air. Scott, however, NEVER sleeps in, so he went swimming. He's more of a "go-getter" than I. I'm more of a sloth with mono. We ate lunch at the 6th Street Bistro in Hood River and played pool. But I wasn't winning enough, so we left.

The drive back to pick up the kids was peaceful, quiet, scenic and most important, very, very warm. Ah..love the heater.

All in all.. it was an amazing, restful, wonderful, winter weekend, even if it was so cold I wanted to hurt somebody.

Shout out to my mom and dad for watching the twinkies so we could get way. You guys rock!That is the best gift grandparents can give.

I LOVE YOU! Yes YOU! Everybody needs a little free love. TAKE IT!

Soccer Mom Freak!

2006-11-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

This was our second season of soccer for Kiel. It was a tough start, because we were assigned to a different team and had to leave our buddies from last spring, Sam and Nick.

Two of the coolest dudes a guy could ever play with. (Not too mention that their parents are good friends of ours and some of the funnest people in the world!)

Not only is it tough on the kids to join a new team, but sometimes it's tough on the moms, too! We're forced to "make new friends" as well. I was mourning the loss of the familiar moms and dads from our last team!

First couple practices and I was ready to quit. Kiel was fine, but I was stressed. The boys looked like trees next to my son, and they all seemed to be a year advanced in skill level. No more kick and chase,,,, this was real soccer! Kiel was going to have to get better fast to be able to keep up.

So.... HE DID! He increased his playing 100%. He worked hard at practices, in the back yard, in the street, whenever/wherever he could. He listened to his dad and the couch and really kicked in an amazing effort! I was SO proud of him. Above all, he had the most hustle of anyone on the team...he never gave up! (Sorry moms, you can nominate your kids in your own blog!) He runs full speed all the time, even when he's subbing out. Full speed until he reaches the sidelines. One of his nicknames became "Speedy." That's my boy!

He started to really shine at games and that's when it happend. I BECAME THE SOCCER MOM FREAK!!!!! I would scream my guts out for my son! I got so into the game I would jump up and down and act like a spazz. You would think that might be embarrassing to a 9 year old. But Kiel loved it.. he loved the sight of his mom flopping around on the sidelines, yelling and clapping for him.

I don't know what it is... somehow it must take you back to the "glory days" of your youth and you channel all that raw hormonal energy! I don't know, but there is something very cool, something beautiful and strangely redemptive. Pooring all your heart and pride into your children is better than pooring all your heart and pride into yourself, yes, but it's more than that. There is an amazing joy in seeing your kids work hard and succeed. Rooting for them and letting them know that you are their biggest fan is a privilege and a responsibility. They must feel that their parents are in awe of them, and will support them through wins and losses....and will scream and wave their hands up in the air like a crazy person every time they take the field.

I, for one, cannot help myself from doing so!

Trick or treat and other foolishness!

2006-11-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

Halloween....Never been one of my favorite holidays! I guess it would rank as third lowest on my list of most annoying holidays.

Just above it at number two would be April Fool's Day (Because my father used to TORTURE us on this day! For example: 5:00am he would run into our bedroom yelling, "FIRE! FIRE! GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!" Screaming, crying, and running out into the hallway in our jammies, he would then cheerfully announce "April Fools!" That sucked, I ain't gonna lie. Thus, I'm not a fan of pranks.)

Number one would have to be the 4th of July (I had a sparkler incident as a child. I also hate explosions and smelly, smokey things. More stories of my father and M80's that I won't get into on this blog.)

All that to say.... Halloween would come and go throughout the years without much consideration on my part. Until..... I had children. Now, the whole "darkside" thing creeps me out, and I'm not a fan of celebrating skulls, ghosts, serial killers or witches either! BUT, there is something so whimsical about dressing up.

My kids totally get into the whole make-believe, dress-up, pretend you're something or someone different part of Halloween. And guess what? This year I discovered....I LIKE IT, TOO!

We attended Andy and Denise Carson's annual Chili feed/Halloween party. It's our second year, and our favorite new tradition. The adults were supposed to dress like famous couples. Here's what we all came up with:

The Carsons were TomKat (Tom Kruise and Katie Holmes), their dog, Luci played Suri Cruise. She basically barked all night at the trick or treaters, and Andy would yell, "SHUT UP, SURI!" at the top of his lungs. Hysterical

Andy B. and Kelly B. were Andy and Denise Carson. They get the "freaky, single white female" costume award.

Jenni and Matt were Mr. and Mrs. Roper... Sort of. Matt looked more like Taylor Hicks from American Idol, and Jen just looked priceless.

Scott and I came as Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. (I figured it was the only way to get Scott to dress up. He could just wear his regular clothes. This is his number one least favorite holiday.)

The big hit of the night was what I like to call "Wig Swapping." We laughed, we cried, we ate chili and drank Pumkin Ale.. it was a good night.

So...I guess Halloween is what you want to make of it. It doesn't have to be all dark and creepy. It can be about opening your door to your neighbors. Getting together with good friends to laugh and act ridiculous. It can even be about trying out a new hair color for a night... the point is: have fun with your kids, your friends and let yourself "play dress-up" one day a year.

Oh...and the candy is like a bonus.

Foot In Mouth

2006-10-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

I need to make a public apology! On my "It" Moms segment this week, Marni and I took a road trip. You know... Thelma and Louise, Oprah and Gayle....hit the open road idea.

Ok, so far, no harm. In the middle of our drive, we hit some construction. While waiting, I said to Marni, "Let's do a Chinese Fire Drill!" We ran wildly around the outside of the car and jumped back in. Thrills. I am in Jr. High.

Next day, the producer of the show says she got two calls from viewers who were offended by the racial slur. RACIAL SLUR? What? Oh NO!

I have never, in my 30+ years given any deep thought to that term. Did not cross my mind for two seconds that it might have a derogatory meaning. I found out how naive I was when I looked it up on the net. Here's what I found out:

Chinese fire drill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Chinese fire drill is a prank that was popular in the United States during the 1960s. It is performed when a car is stopped at a red traffic light, at which point all of the car's occupants get out, run around the car, and return to their own (or go to other) seats. Chinese Fire Drills are sometimes executed when one needs to get something from the trunk of a car. People have reported its use as early as the 1940s, so it is likely that the phrase was current at the time, but simply was not written down that early.

The term is also used as a figure of speech to mean any large, ineffective, and chaotic exercise. In this usage, it is often shortened to just "fire drill," omitting the offensive "Chinese."

Origins of the term

The term is alleged to have originated in the early 1900s, during a naval incident wherein a ship manned by British officers and a Chinese crew set up a fire drill for fighting a fire in the engine room. In the event of a fire the crew was to form a bucket brigade, drawing water from the starboard side, taking it to the engine room and throwing it on the "fire." Because water would accumulate in the engine room, another crew was to take the excess thrown water and haul it back up to the main deck, and then heave it over the port side (in order to bail it out).

When the drill was called the first moments went according to plan, but then orders became confused in translation. The crew for the bucket brigade began drawing the water from the starboard side, running over to the port side, and then throwing the water over, and so by-passing the engine room completely. Thus the expression "Chinese fire drill" entered the English language as meaning a large confused action by individuals accomplishing nothing.

THAT IS TERRIBLE! I feel terrible! My deepest apologies to anyone I offended by my ignorance.

When I told one of my best friends, Jenni (who happens to be Chinese) she said, "What? We used to do Chinese Fire Drills all the time! I am not offended, you Honkie." So... I think we're on our way to reconcilliation.

How awful is it that our society has imbedded in it today, offensive and shameful hints of our past. As Oprah says, "When ya know better, ya do better." So I will.

In parting, I shall leave you with some more slurs I found when researching this. Racially, I am a little bit of everything: Irish, Scottish, German, Dutch, English even a little Native American (Mom calls our family : Heinz 57), and I personally am not offended by any of the following.... these things do not offend me because I am not a nationality. I am a child of God, and you can tease me all day long about that and I'll still be smilin'.

MORE RACIAL SLURS
Irish twins, two siblings born within the same year (9 to 12 months apart) based on the stereotype that the Irish had/have too many children
French leave, leaving a party without addressing and thanking the host or hostess
Dutch Metal a brass alloy, worthless in itself but used to imitate gold leaf
Dutch wife, a prostitute or a sex doll (from Japanese usage)
Dutch courage, bravado or drunken willingness
Welsher, someone who refuses to pay off their bets (unclear whether the etymology of this word has a racial origin).
British teeth (or "English teeth"), teeth that are stained and crooked. From the stereotype that British attitudes to dental care are less stringent than American.
Gyp (verb), to cheat. From Gypsy.

Let us not repeat the mistakes of our past....I, for one, will pay closer attention to these things from now on. I am truly sorry for my careless remark.

Blessings,
Holly

Hair

2006-10-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

Had a wonderful morning with some of my mom friends today. We get together every Monday for coffee and hours of chatter, sharing, and hysterical laughter...this is my drug of choice. It feeds my soul and keeps me sane!

Topics this morning ranged from serious to ridiculous as usual....health concerns, kids' behavioral issues to dog vomit and Dr. 90210. I've never seen this "reality" show, but thanks to a couple of my friends, the horrible visual descriptions will forever be stained into my brain! Bleaching what? That is just not right. Happy thoughts, think of happy thoughts..... OPB.

In hopes of recovering from the previous topic, I changed the subject. I asked the gals, "Do you think my son's hair is starting to look like a mullet?" (I have this thing, you see, about cutting my children's hair. It's like letting go of their childhood one hair at a time or something... it's hard to let them grow up.. or look like they are grown up. Who's with me? Anyone?)

So.... as delicate and gentle as my friends are, they yelled out a resounding, "YES!" Jenni S even got out her mullet refrigerator magnets to see which one most resembled my son. The "mudflaps" or the "Kentucky Waterfall?" Nice. With the loving support of my friends, I decided that it was prbably time. Time to cut his beautiful mullet.

After leaving the ladies, I went to the grocery store for some things before I headed back home. At the checkout, the cashier leans over to my son and says in a very sweet "kid voice", "How are you today, Princess?"

Ok... it's time!

"It" Moms 911 and Holiday Shopping!

2006-10-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

I have been an "It" Mom on More Good Day Oregon for 10 months now and I lOVE it! We've done everything from hip-hop dancing, bungee jumping, henna tattoos to knitting and much more. Today's segment, however, was the greatest rollercoaster ride of them all. Let me tell the story.

Marni, Brian and I met at Lamb's Thriftway to shoot a segment for the NW Women's Show. We had very little information to go on, just a suggestion of "holiday shopping with kids." We took it in a "Halloween direction" and were very prepared to talk about alternative healthy snacks for kids during this infamous candy holiday.

Upon arriving, we discovered that the clients wanted us to talk more about catering Thriftway offers to those short on time during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. It took about 15 minutes to wrap our brains around the new idea. We both walked off in different directions with strained looks on our faces, talking to ourselves out loud. Yes...we looked crazy, but it worked and we ran in the new direction.

Honestly, we can be quite impressive on the fly, it always surprises me. HOWEVER, creativity can be sorely stunted when one's three year old (I won't name any names) decides to have the worst fit, tantrum, bad attitude, bad, terrible, yucky, horrid day of all times.

So, picture the pressure of clients standing by, customers on-looking, camera rolling and my precious 4th born screaming and hitting everyone in sight. This is my work environment. With sweat dripping down my under arm, I turned my mic off, and pulled the child away from everyone where I PLEADED.. uh, hem... I mean "strongly encouraged" him to stop his foul play. I'd like to say that it worked and he "got me"... but it was the cookie I gave him from the bakery that did the trick. Whatever works, people! Don't judge.

So...after I shook it off, and the sting of threatening tears subsided, we pulled it together and finished the shoot. I actually think it will be awesome. Marni is amazing! She can always think of brilliant little "gems" of substance and I love her for that!

As we were debriefing outside the store, Marni's 3 year old decided it was her turn to melt down a bit. Luckily, she let me hold her and we snuggled. Kids are always better for other people! What is that? As I'm holding her, I notice an elderly woman miss the step in front of her and fall face first onto the concrete sidewalk. She fell so hard and had no time to brace herself with her hands. It was horrible! I rushed over to her, as did Marni, and we immediately began "first aid." (I should really take a refresher course!)

Sweet, 81 year old Shirley, had cut clear through her top lip with her teeth, chipped her teeth, her glasses cut into the bridge of her nose, she injured her hand, and smacked both of her knees. Marni and I applied pressure to her wounds and stopped the bleeding. We got to hold her hands and offer sweet, sympathetic compassion as she lay there hurt and scared until the paramedics came. It was an honor and privilege to be there for her.

Praise God, Shirley was fine! The paramedics arrived and did their thing. She was sitting up and sassy as ever when we left.

So, as hard as those few moments of stress with my child in the grocery store was, I wouldn't have missed that moment for the world! A rare chance of human connection and opportunity to show love to strangers doesn't come very often. Nope.. not even a 3 year old's worst fit, tantrum, bad attitude, bad, terrible, yucky, horrid day of all times can change how cool it was to be "in the right place at the right time." Ah.... life is good. Get well, Shirley!

Holly

Tennis Anyone?

2006-10-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

Yes... before you begin reading my first blog ever, about the evening of tennis with my girls, read the blogs of Jenni Clayville and Jenni Singley. For, by that time, you will already be laughing so hard, my blog entry will be funny just by continutation.

OK, Tennis: a game where you "volley" a small yellow ball back and forth over a waist level net using a racket. Hm? OR..... not.

We are so certainly not going to win any tournaments in the near future. Plainly.. we suck. However, we do enjoy the thrill of the game. Well, the thrill has nothing to do with the game actually, read below.

I currently hold the record for the most balls hit over the very high (yet not high enough, obviously) fence at the Rose Garden tennis courts. I'm proud to say that I also hold the record for most balls retrieved from the rocky terain down the cliff aside the courts. I had one potentially fatal fall down the folliage, but managed to come out alive only sustaining two flesh wounds. Victoriously, I emerged with the ball. My "friends" were too busy laughing and checking out Singley's "hot pants" that no one bothered to see if I was ok, alive, wounded, bloody, missing limbs, etc. They appeared to only be concerned that I brought the ball back safely. SO, it was worth it! Huh? Maybe not.

"Rally"...as we call her... Allison McKenney, is always my doubles partner. This is some sick and twisted move of the part of the"Jenni's" (Remember the "Heathers?") Not that I don't love sharing the court with her.. she is definately eye candy and just as sweet to hang with..... but she's, let just say, not the best "athlete" in town. NOT that I am either.. that's where the sick and twisted part comes in. We look across the net most times and the "Jenni's" are on the ground laughing. I'd like to think that it's not at us... but..........you have to know them.

Oba was our next stop... because they have the most amazing Caesar salad ever made in the whole wide world, ever..really, ever! I crave it, and have to have it, or I might die. Unfortunately, Scott died from smelling my garlic breath all night as I slept. Sorry, honey! Crack the window, my bad.

The girls all wanted to get different appetizers and share, but I said "no." I was not going to share my coconut prawns with those hungry animals. I wanted every prawn to myself. I know, it's wrong, and I had to pray about it later. I'm forgiven. However, when the dessert came around, I was not given a spoon, and I felt the consequence of my actions. So a l learned a big lesson in sharing that night..and while they were all busy looking away, I stole a bite of the chocolate cake. More prayers.

Love those girls, love the game, love to eat... love, love, love...

Holly