Every once in awhile, I feel the need to update you on an old post but the topic doesn't really warrant a whole other post.
For instance, when I tell you— my growing fetus demands I inhale whole watermelons on a daily basis, and then a few days later, I eat so much watermelon that I literally have to lie down for fear of explosion and haven't touched any since— that's INCREDIBLY INTERESTING, I know, but probably not 500 words of blog fodder.
Below are five more short updates to old posts, including 'apps mocking motherhood', 'my belly at BlogHer' and 'life-changing hair'.
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1. iPad App Mocking Motherhood Makes Parent Approved Update
A while back, I wrote a post calling out My PlayHome for mocking motherhood. My PlayHome is a virtual dollhouse where your child can move family members from room to room, opening cabinets, eating apples, turning on the TV, etc.
Sounds perfectly fine, right? Except…
When you moved the kids onto a bed, they would lie down and go to sleep, but if you put the parents on the bed, they would just stand on top of it.
The parents were literally NOT ALLOWED TO SLEEP.
Also, the house consisted of a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room and a nursery. THE PARENTS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BEDROOM.
So if the mother wanted to change the toilet paper roll or clean up the toys in the nursery, that was cool, but if she wanted to have some sexy time with her husband, it was a NO-GO.
Feeling a little too close to home, yes?
Long story short, the creators of My Playhome were really good sports about it in the comment section. And then, a few weeks ago, they sent me this email:
"Just thought you might like to know, we've updated the app so the parents can finally get some sleep in their own bed. Admittedly, still in their day clothes but hey, what can you do."
You hear that, folks? It's called THE POWER OF MOMMY BLOGGING. Don't knock it— together we are changing the world.
All jokes aside, My PlayHome is one of Mazzy's favorite iPad apps and you can download it here.
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2. Burning Your Children's Feet in the Name of Good Behavior
After learning about Mazzy's hobbling foot injury (which caused her to sit still for the first time in two years), a number of you expressed interest in hobbling your own children.
It has come to my attention, that her injured toes were most likely not a burn (I thought she stood on something hot), but the result of too much time spent running around barefoot on the cement floor of a pool.
So. Put away your lighter and just take the kids for a swim sans pool shoes.
They will be incapacitated in no time.
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3. The TIME TIMER Continues to be Awesome (giveaway on Babble)
Back in March, Dr. B gave me the gift of the TIME TIMER, an 8" visual clock timer that literally changed everything (that's it on the table above, showing Mazzy who's boss).
We've been using it for about 5 months now and it continues to be totally indispensable— hands down my #1 recommended toddler tool. You can read all about my experience with it here.
More importantly, if you have not already purchased one (and you really really should), I am doing a giveaway for an 8" Time Timer (value $35) on Babble today.
Or, if you are not a fan of giveaways, Time Timer is offering Mommy Shorts readers 10% off all their products (except mobile apps). Just click here and use the code: LifeTime.
Please note— this is a totally unpaid, unsponsored, unabashedly positive endorsement.
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3. Life-Changing Hair at BlogHer
In my recap of BlogHer on Monday, I left out the amazing party thrown by Mighty Events at Isabel Kallman's envy-inducing apartment, for the launch of Gretchen Rubin's new book Happier at Home.
Here's a picture of me and my belly(3rd from left) with three of my favorite bloggers— Amy of When Did I Get Like This, Isabel of Alphamom and Ellen of Love that Max.
I show you the photo above for two reasons.
1) Photos have forced me to realize I am really pulling off this second pregnancy thing. I don't compliment myself often so please see this as a major growth moment for me.
2) Notice my new modified use of the "life-changing hair technique". After months of experimentation with 'the band', I now do an ultra quick blow dry with flat iron (no more than three minutes combined, flat ironing mainly the top and not touching the ends). Then I keep the band in place for 15-20 minutes— the result is a relaxed frizz-free wave that works well in humidity (we are standing in an outdoor sauna, if that isn't obvious).
Anyway, the event was gorgeous and when I get around to reading the book, I have full confidence it will be fantastic. On the few ocassions I've met Gretchen, she is always friendly and gracious. I wish her all the success in the world.
All pictures were taken by Sheri Silver.
You can purchase a copy of Happier at Home here.
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5. Mommy Shorts Mobile Optimization
I heard you all loud and clear. I am working on it. Unfortunately, my blogging platform makes mobile customization a tad difficult and having a design that reflects Mommy Shorts is important to me. After all, I look at my blog on my phone all the time, too.
So… I am weighing my options and will hopefully have something in place soon.
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Alright, that's everything.
I believe it's now time for some Coffee Haagen Dazs. But first, I must put on my ice cream pants. (What? You don't have ice cream pants???)
Have a wonderfully air conditioned weekend.
— Mommy Shorts
Yes, I have ice cream pants!
You look gorgeous. Pregnancy looks good on you.
My ice cream pants are called “no pants”.
I just wanted to say that I love your blog. I start my day with you, my Coke (soda not drug lol), and the quietness of an empty office. At least its quiet until I burst out laughing. Its nice to read about someone else’s kid issues and laugh. As opposed to my own. For an example, look at my twitter post from this morning where I swear I woke up a zombie.
When Lil’ Bit was visiting my parents last week, they started setting the stove timer for her before naps. When it started beeping after 10 minutes, she’d drop whatever she was doing, yell, “TIME TO GO NIGHT-NIGHT!” and race upstairs. Then during breakfast one morning, the stove timer went off because something was actually cooking on the stove. And Mom said a confused Lil’ Bit wandered into the kitchen and asked, “Time to go night-night?” Even though she’d just woken up. She would’ve made an excellent test subject for Ivan Pavlov.
Anyway, we’ve started setting the stove timer at home, too, and it’s worked wonders. So much so that I think the 8″ Time Timer would just confuse her at this point. But I’ll definitely join you in wholeheartedly endorsing the timer method.
You look superb. We’ve been using our over timer so far, mainly just for time outs, and it’s not the best. Also, somehow Mango has already figured out master negotiations. “5 minutes.” “I want 10!”
you look gorgeous and was so happy to HUG you at BlogHer…and that TIMER..I will be thinking about one.
1. Mazzy is gorgeous. 2. LOVE you hair in that pic and you look frickin’ amazing. 3. LOVE your view. omg. my view: nasty dirty small patio and big street. blah. and i want your apartment. 4. I just ordered the timer yesterday! just in time for back to school. this kid (6 yo) has no concept of time whatsoever. very excited. 5. I have to read her books! i bought the happiness project maybe about a year ago and never read it. maybe if i did, i would be happier! oy. i’ll read that one first and then get this one. 6. fab party. what a life. i live in the most boring part of a valley outside of LA. I’d have to travel to the “west side” to see a glimpse of that life. oh, and i would also probably need to write a blog or something like that. yeah not gonna happen. 7. poor mazzy toes. 8. Mazzy is gorgeous.
you really do make my day. you’re funny as hell.
also, unrelated: how the heck do you pull off white bedding with a kid? i almost did it until i found my kids eating chocolate chips in my bed.
Yay for power of mommy blogging! And oooo, Mike let her run around too much on the cement. I see.
ALL my pants are icecream pants! course they are all expandable caus ei am also prego but we will pretend that i wore real pants before being prego and not just lots and lots of sweats and yoga pants… Thank you for always makeing me laugh! I love your blog!
You do look amazing. As I’ve mentioned before, just picture Jaba the Hut, only meaner, and that in a nutshell is why I won’t be doing pregnancy again. Ever. Also, while I never looked as big as I obviously felt, I swear to God I could have started a friction fire with my thighs rubbing together while trying to walk. Ugh.
I second the Time Timer. Pun, I suppose, intended. Also note that I am *not* pregnant in that picture, I just look that way.
oh- also- my blog’s name is linking to Go Mighty.
I’ll stop now.
Anna’a favorite app is definitely the playhouse, and she was so excited when the update came through allowing mom and dad to lay down. And then she promptly put all the kids in bed with them, ruining their “quiet” time and enforcing my belief that I may never get 10 minutes alone to myself ever again! And while we don’t have a Time Timer, after your blog post I started using the timer on my iPhone and it has been totally life-changing. Anna now asks me to set the time for everything, and she has YET to argue with it! I’m pretty sure I owe you my sanity, all 10 minutes I get of it a day!
OMG – that happened to my feet in the pool too when I was little.
Hey Ilana! I hope everything is going great! I was obsessed with watermelon when I was pregnant with Ella too!
Ha. I like how you think.
Glad you found me! Parental problems are always much funnier when they happen to other people:)