Lots of Fun and Loads of Blessings

Hey Lovelies!

I was not able to post for Thanksgiving because I was just getting over a horrible week of being sick. I was finally able to write once I was feeling better and I hope all of you checked out my post honoring all of the marvelous efforts of moms out there (Moms Rock!).

Thanksgiving Day went pretty well, albeit a bit different. Although we went to my aunt's house late that evening to celebrate her birthday, it was just Aiden and me for most of the day. My blackberry battery died and the charger was broken so I couldn't make or receive phone calls. So it really was just us two. Alone. In the house. On Thanksgiving. A holiday.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, I began to feel a bit anxious knowing that it was going to be just us two. And on Thanksgiving Day, I felt a bit melancholy in the morning. But that feeling of gentle sadness slowly passed as the day went on because I actually embraced the day and my single mom status.

Aiden and I made artwork to hang in the house for Thanksgiving.


And I cooked! Yup. I made a whole chicken... all by my lonesome.


I know that making a chicken is not a big deal to some (after all, it's not a turkey or anything), but it is definitely a big deal to me. You see, I used to be seriously cooking-impaired and I'm just beginning to learn the ropes. Needless to say, cooking a whole chicken is kinda a big deal.

As we ate our Thanksgiving Day chicken dinner, I realized that my life is filled with lots of fun and loads of blessings. Moments like those -- where I can take time to appreciate how far I've come, how much love I'm surrounded by, and just how amazing life truly is -- warms my heart.

And I know that I can do this. I can be a single mom. Even on holidays. My son and I can enjoy each other. It can be just us two. Even on holidays.

And we can still make it special.


Hope you guys had a fabulous holiday weekend!

Smooches,

This Goes Out To You

This has been a very trying week and I'm so glad it's over! Whew! *wipes forehead*

I was so sick -- fever, dizzy spells, cough, sore throat, that overall and awful feeling of aches and pains. It was brutal. I finally began feeling a little better on Thanksgiving, and today I feel almost 100% better. Being sick sucks. Being a single mom who's sick... sucks big time.

Being sick this week brought me back to a couple weeks ago -- smack in the middle of October -- when I was overworked, overwhelmed, and over-exhausted with school, work, motherhood, everything.

I usually try to do everything that I do gracefully, and this time was no exception. But trying to get through 5 classes of midterms and papers and an MA project oh my! -- all while trying to stay safe and sane as a single mom and help my Aiden make sense of his world was hectic. And not at all easy.

At one point during the madness, I felt like I was going to have a breakdown. I was so totally and completely tired. It's insane what sleep deprivation can do to ya! At that point, I was not functioning as my best self. At all. I looked like crap, felt like crap, and needed sleep. Period.

But thankfully, I finished all the papers and presentations, and took all of the midterms. When it was all over, I was finally able to get some sleep and wowza! It's incredible what a full night's sleep can do for ya!

It amazes me at how mothers do all that they do. And so gracefully and seemingly effortlessly.

So this post goes out to you.

To stay-at-home moms: I commend you for being with your children all day and not go insane. You rock!

To working moms: I applaud you for giving your all at work, somehow re-fueling on the way home, and then giving your all yet again. You rock!

To young moms: I'm so impressed that you can take care of someone else while still trying to grow and figure out who you are. You rock!

To single moms: I admire that you can raise kids without having anyone to pass them off to when the going gets rough, yet still be able to keep your sanity. You rock!

The bottom line? Moms rock.

With all its super-human requirements, at times it seems as though motherhood is not a job for mere mortals. And yet, you've somehow figured out how to get the job done. Gracefully. And lovingly.

Winner of Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910

Hey Lovelies!

Thanks to everyone who entered Mommy Delicious' Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 giveaway.

1 (one) winner was chosen via random.org.

The winner of the giveaway is:

Mommy Glow!

Congratulations!!! An email has been sent. Please respond with the requested information.

Smooches,

A Mommy Delicious Makeover

Hey Lovelies!

As you can clearly see, there have been some great changes around here.

I am super happy with the blog makeover. And equally excited about where this blog can go and how it can serve as a voice for young mommies, single mommies, all mommies.

I want to take this time out to give a huge shout-out to Danielle aka The Design Girl. She is totally awesome and great to work with. I love that she can take my ideas, interests, and vision, and turn it into something wonderful.

I tell her what I'm looking for, she puts her creative spin on it, and viola... Mommy Delicious' fantabulous blog makeover!

Thanks Danielle. You rock. Big Time.

Smooches

Raising A Competent and Capable Son

Hey Lovelies!

I love my Aiden to pieces. Being his mother has been such an amazing and delicious experience. And I want nothing but the best for him in life.

But recently, I've gotten so caught up in the everyday stresses and strains of single motherhood -- make up our beds in the morning, make breakfast, pack lunch, get to preschool on time, cook dinner.. this list is endless. Focusing on the nitty gritty of things can take up a lot of my energy... if I let it.

But I'm not going to let it. And here's why...

I am going to take the time to figure out what kind of person I want to raise. Yes, of course I want Aiden to be happy and healthy and have all the opportunities afforded to him as possible, but when all is said and done, when he graduates from high school, moves on to college, and becomes an adult, what kind of person will he be?

When he goes on his first date, finds someone he loves and gets married, what will his partner whisper in my ear? It better be something good!

I want my son to be active and happy. And yes, swimming and gymboree and apple picking and all types of activities around NYC will take care of that.

I want him to be bright. And daycare and preschool and reading a ton of books and completing jigsaw puzzles will take care of that. At least that's what they tell me.

But what about the other things that I want to instill in him? I want him to be cooperative, loving, caring, compassionate, moral, honest, optimistic, a problem solver, resilient.

And I have been given the opportunity to demonstrate these exact behaviors to him as a single mom... each. and. every. day.

And for that I'm grateful.

So the next time I'm feeling overwhelmed or too caught up in our everyday grind, I'll remember this post and choose my actions wisely.

And the next time his behavior is umm, less than appropriate, I'll remember this post and respond accordingly.

After all, If I can make the tough decision to choose safety and sanity to leave a bad relationship, I can raise a competent and capable son as well.

Smooches,

Fashion, Fun, and Beauty with Momtrends

Hey Lovelies!

A picture of Nicole Feliciano (Momtrends founder and editor) and yours truly.


A little scooting around (in 3-inch heels!) Zoe, a fabulous Boutique in DUMBO, Brooklyn.


A Bobbi Brown cosmetics make-over... every gals' dream!



And Din Dins cranberry-zucchini mini-muffins... yummy!


Wondering what these seemingly un-related pictures all have in common? Check out my coverage of this fabulous Momtrends.com Fashion, Fun, and Beauty Event over at The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways.


Also, don't forget to entire Mommy Delicious' Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 giveaway! It ends Friday November 19th!

Smooches,
Alicia

Weekend Reads

Hey Lovelies!

Here are some good reads for this weeks link roundup.

Mom Finds has the best holiday cards as well as the best winter kids' gloves. So head on over to their website and prepare to be awed.

Looking for a yummy way to keep warm these days? Check out delicious soups for Fall from Shiny Brite. While you're at it, plan a trip to NYC Chinatown based on their recent adventure there.

Ad Hoc Mom talks about the difference between perceived parenting and real parenting... can I get an "Amen?"

NYC Single Mom talks about her struggle (and her daughter's struggle) to adjust to a new man in the house.... and gives an amazing review of the Best Pals Dolls.

As for reviews, Culture Mom tells us all about the Off-Broadway show, Stomp.

Enjoy your weekend!

Smooches,
Alicia

Giveaway: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910

Hey Lovelies!

This week, something awesome happened. I had the opportunity to attend a Logitech Evening at The Spa event thanks to the awesome Dr. Yakini Etheridge of The Prissy Mommy Chronicles who graciously extended her invitation to me. At the event, guest were treated to manicures and massages as well as given a presentation of the latest video gear from Logitech. Combining technology with a lil bit of pampering... NICE!

The event took place in a private loft in Tribeca, NYC and was amazing. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted with scrumptious appetizers and directed to the bar where I selected a signature cocktail. Yum! I even got a chance to mingle with a few other mommy bloggers.

Here I am with Linda of NYC Single Mom:


And here I am with Issa of Single Mama NYC:

Gotta love us single mamas!

At the event I received a 25-minute back and shoulders massage, which was followed by a manicure, all courtesy of Spa Chicks On-The-Go -- a spa event marketing company that provides personalized spa and beauty experiences for corporate and media clients. The cocktail, massage, and manicure alone was awesome. But the best part of the evening was during a presentation of the latest Logitech video gear.

(Note: Check out The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways for my entire coverage of this event, including the Logitech HD Webcam C510 and the Logitech Alert 750i Master System because I will only be talking about the giveaway of the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 in this post)

I've always thought that webcams are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family members, and the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 helps you to easily do that! It capture videos in the most amazing ways and with incredible detail. With the Logitech Fluid Crystal technology, each of your video calls or recordings will have crystal-clear images and true-to-life colors. The 10-megapixel snapshot lets you take high-resolution photos, and with just one-click, you can upload to Facebook or YouTube. What a great way to illustrate anecdotes of your little one! The C910 also features stereo audio with two microphones, which will assure that friends and family will hear your real voice. Since it is only 25 millimeters deep, the C910 adds a minimalist touch to your laptop or desktop setup.

You can purchase your Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 at their website, or you can WIN one here!

1 (one) lucky follower will receive their very own Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 (valued at $99.99) Here's how to enter the giveaway:

Mandatory Entry:

• FOLLOW this blog via Google Friends Connect and leave a comment saying that you are a new follower and want to win
• If you are already a follower, leave a comment saying that you want to win

Extra Entries:

• If you own a blog, write a post about this giveaway post and link back to here. ~ 2 entries
  
• Tweet about this giveaway post and leave a link to this post! ~ 1 entry
• Share this giveaway post with your Facebook friends. ~ 1 entry

Rules:

• You MUST complete the mandatory entry before the extra entries
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment so that it can be counted
• You do not have to own a blog to follow MOMMY DELICIOUS and enter to win
• Valid for US addresses only
• 1 eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner (http://www.random.org/)

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS GIVEAWAY IS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19TH!

Good Luck!

Smooches,
Alicia

Does Talking Really Work Better Than Time-outs?

Hey Lovelies!

Aiden turned 3-years-old two weeks ago. Woohoo! And he picked up a new less-than-appropriate behavior too. Boohoo. Is there a such thing as the "terrible threes"? Because someone should have really warned me about it.
All of a sudden, the kid sticks out his tongue and makes a spitting sound (I think that's what they call 'making raspberries', but I'm not quite sure).

Anyways... I. Can't. Stand. It. When. He. Does. That.

But hey...the joys of parenting.

The first time he did it was to the doorman of our apartment building. I was completely shocked because Aiden has a good relationship with our doorman and is normally nice to him. I was like, What on Earth?! Did that sound just come from my sweet baby boy?! I hate to admit this, but in my frenzy, when we got upstairs to our apartment, I invited Aiden to his time-out chair. And he went. Thing is, I didn't fully explain to him what the unacceptable behavior was so I'm pretty sure he was a tad-bit confused. Sigh.

He did it a few more time throughout the weekend, but nothing beats when we were in the elevator of our apartment building. To an old lady who was just tryna say "hey." I was shocked again. I mean, didn't I "take care" of this earlier in the weekend?

But even more than shocked, I was embarrassed because I didn't even have a chance to apologize to her before she looked at Aiden, looked at me, and then shook her head. Ouch, lady... that hurt!

There I stood in the elevator, frozen. There she stood in the elevator, shaking her head. And then there was Aiden in-between us, sticking his tongue out and making raspberries. Sigh. I was so embarrassed. Her looked shamed me. I walked out of the elevator covered in shame.

As Aiden and I walked out when we got to our floor, I was a gal of many thoughts: What was she thinking of me? Of young mothers in general? What was she thinking of Aiden? I didn't have the opportunity to tell her it's just a phase and he's actually a good kid. I was silenced.

When we got to our apartment, I scolded Aiden. "We don't do that when people say hello to us; go to the time-out chair." He probably was thinking, "huh?" But he went to the chair.

As he sat in time-out, I sat in the kitchen thinking, Okay, what just happened? Let's have a do-over and make this right. So I called him over and TALKED to the kid about it. Our conversation went like this:

Me: Aiden, when you do that to people who say "hi" to you, it hurts their feelings.
Aiden: (listening intently) okay.
Me: It makes them very sad, like this (frowning to show him a sad face)
Aiden: Okay.
Me: And it makes mommy really sad too.
Aiden: Mommy... I not gonna do it again. (Notice he didn't say "I'm not going to do it again...oh the language of a 3-year-old.)

But just like that, he stopped. At least for now. Since then, whenever we're in the elevator or outdoors, he says "hello" to people who greet him.

And all it took was a little talk. Not time-out.

But hey, I live and I learn.

Smooches,
SweetAl

Three Years of Birthday Bashes

Hey Lovelies!

Man, I am totally swamped these days! Grad school is brutal, to say the least. Between papers and midterms and presentations, sometimes I feel like I hardly have time to breath, let alone sleep. But... all is well. I'm happy and Aiden is delightful and delicious, so hey...

In addition to fabulous Halloween festivities this past weekend, we celebrated Aiden's 3rd birthday. Yippee! While I was planning and throwing his 3rd birthday party, I took a trip down memory lane and looked back on previous years and previous birthday parties.

Since he loved it so much (and I do too!), Aiden's 1st birthday was all about Sesame Street. I was a super excited mommy and I went ALL OUT. First it was the Sesame Street decor; then the clown who did face painting, tattoos, parchute time, and limbo dances with the kids; next there was an Elmo character who took pictures with each child; and last there was the extra good stuff -- the piñata filled with candy, the yummy cake, and the goody bags... Yea, I went ALL OUT.

While I don't regret throwing him such an awesome party, in retrospect, I realized that it was a bit, eh excessive. Like, why does a 12-month-old need such a big party?

The Sesame Street Gang!

Elmo, which Aiden was totally afraid of.

He had as good of a time as any 1-year-old could have, but after hours and hours of hosting a party at the community center we rented out, I was beat! And after that 1st party, I learned my lesson: it was too long, too pricey, and there were too many kids. Word.

So for his 2nd birthday party, I decided to tone it down a notch. Since he loves Gymboree Play & Learn so much, I decided to have a 3-hour birthday party at our local Gymboree. It was a Barney and Friends themed party (another favorite of Aiden and me) and it was 3 hours of non-stop fun with about 15 of Aiden's playmates. They really enjoyed the free play activities, structured activities, singing, dancing, parachute time, and bubbles. And of course, all the kids loved when Gymbo came out to greet them! I decorated a bit, but toned it down a lot, and the kids still enjoyed a few of the extra good stuff like goody bags and cake. Yum!

This year, I decided to have Aiden's party on Halloween at The Fun Factory, a local shop in Brooklyn, NY that specializes in birthday parties and Mommy and Me classes. Having the party on Halloween actually worked in my favor because the theme for his party was Go, Diego Go, as was his Halloween costume. Along with his friends, Aiden enjoyed 3 hours of face painting, singing, dancing, free play, painting their own artwork to create a masterpiece, and cupcakes, and goody bags... all in their cute little Halloween costumes. It was a blast! I hardly had to do any work and totally felt like a guest at my own event... now THAT'S my kind of party!

Aiden's out; Diego's in... and dancing!

As for me, this Halloween weekend, I was mommy by day...

And a Shipmate Cutie aka Sailor Girl by night.

OOWWSSHHH!!!

Smooches,

SweetAl