Usually people wait until New Year’s Eve to reflect on their year, but typically I’ve had too much champagne to reflect on anything.  So I use Thanksgiving as the time to look back over the year and remember what I have to be thankful for.  So while I was enjoying my very hot and luxurious timeout tonight (a bath kids, get your mind out of the gutter!) I came up with my Top 10 Things I’m Thankful For list.

1.  My husband and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary this year.  We still talk and laugh together every day.

2.  We have 3 beautiful children (inside and out).

3.  I gave birth without complications to a healthy (and hefty) baby boy.  He is now the center of gravity for our entire family.

4.  I can count on my two hands how many times the 5 of us have collectively been sick this entire year.

5.  My parents and Jers’ parents are alive and healthy.

6.  I have a brand new nephew, another one arriving any minute, and another one (from my sister-from-another-mister) arriving in February.  How sweet is that?!

7.  Even though there have been times (yes plural) over this past year when our bank account has been in the red, God has never forsaken us.  He has always made sure we’ve had a roof over our head, food to eat, and each other.  Our daily bread.

8.  I have amazing friends.  Some are tried and true and others are brand new.  I adore these women.  Each one of them is amazing and I learn so much from them.  I am truly blessed to have such beautiful women in my life and I thank God for them every night.

9.  I get to stay home with my “babies” every day and witness their awesomeness first hand.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

10.  This blog.  I know it sounds weird but it has lit a little fire in me.  I just wrote my first sponsored post (means I actually got paid to write!) and I am blown away.  Since I was little I have always wanted to write; poetry, short stories, books.  But I always just figured it would have to wait until my kids were older.  This blog has opened up new opportunities for me and I am so excited!  I have one of those amazing friends (#8) for pushing me to start it (you know who you are!) and to her I say a great big “THANKS!”

So there’s my Top 10 Things I’m Thankful For list.  I would love for you to leave a comment below telling me what YOU are thankful for!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Thanks to American Express for sponsoring my writing today about small businesses.  American Express is presenting Small Business Saturday, a way to honor the local merchants who are the backbone of the economy, this Saturday, November 27.  They’re offering statement credits to people who shop at small businesses, advertising for small-business owners, and donations to Girls Inc. for “Likes” of the Small Business Saturday page on Facebook.  Join the celebration by clicking the “Like” button and then visiting the Facebook page to learn more about the program and read the terms and conditions that apply.

Everyone knows I’m a big fan of mommy timeouts.

Let me tell you about my favorite way to have one!

In honor of Small Business Saturday I’ve decided to introduce you all to Tera Rae Stephens.  Although, I may regret it because after I tell you how fabulous she is I’m going to have a heck of a time getting in to see her.

Tera is my hair guru and she provides the perfect timeout experience for a mommy who needs some TLC (and a nice glass of wine).  The minute you walk in you KNOW you’re about to get pampered.  You’re handed a fancy smock all tied up in a cute bow, asked if you would like a beverage (this is where the wine comes in, but they have lots of other drinks to quench your thirst), and then sat in a comfy chair.  At this point you’re already so relaxed she could give you a mohawk or dye your hair pink and you wouldn’t care. Don’t worry, she will give you a very thorough consult.  Now I know there are some of you out there that are control freaks but I urge you to TRUST HER.  This chick knows hair.  I have never once told her what to do…she just DOES.  On occasion I’ve asked for a drastic cut (which she is always THRILLED to do) but other than that I’ve trusted her implicitly and never been disappointed.  The girl is a perfectionist so her cuts are…well…perfect! As is every color treatment.  But what I REALLY want to tell you about are the Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatments!

I’m a curly girl, not unruly but enough that it takes me FOR-EV-ER to blow dry and straighten my hair.  So the last time I was in to see Tera I got the Keratin Express Blowout.  It’s a smoothing treatment that allows me to wear my hair curly (except more relaxed) but straighten it when I choose in about 1/2 the time it would have taken me previously.  It also has taken away every bit of frizz!  HEAVEN for someone who has struggled with frizz since I hit puberty!  It also allowed Tera to cut bangs, which would never would have happened before.  This particular treatment will last me about 2-3 months, although there is a longer lasting treatment that hangs on for 4-6 months. I have smooth, soft hair whether I wear it curly or straight and I just love it!  I urge you all to get one!  Anyone can benefit from one of these treatments because, really, who doesn’t want soft, smooth, frizz-free hair?

No matter what you desire, Tera’s your girl!  Unless you want a perm.  Then you’ll have to go elsewhere.  But for the Keratin Treatment, a perfect cut & color, or a hip, modern style for that upcoming holiday party, you must see Tera!  As a special BONUS for Timeout 4 Mommy readers, Tera is offering 20% off ANY SERVICE!!! (New clients only).  Just mention that Christina from Timeout 4 Mommy sent you when you book and you’ll get the special discount!

You can visit Tera’s website by CLICKING HERE! There you can see her darling picture, read her blog (which has some amazing before & after pics), and even schedule your appointment!

But before you head over to her site and start having dreams of your future timeout you need to click “Like” below for American Express’ Small Business Saturday page on Facebook.  They are donating $1 for every “Like” (up to $1,000,000) to Girls, Inc.- a nonprofit organization that has made it their mission to inspire and empower girls of all ages.  How’s THAT for a worthy cause!?

Now that you’ve done your good deed for the day, reward yourself and make an appointment to see Tera Rae Stephens!

So I was a lucky duck and chosen to host a Just Dance 2 Houseparty.  The festivities will be held this weekend but the kind people at Houseparty sent the video game early.  Probably in hopes that we would practice and look like we know what we’re doing.  And since this party is for moms and daughters Cheek and I had to pop that sucker in the Wii right after dinner that night.  Which in retrospect probably wasn’t the best idea.  There is a lot of groovin goin on in this game and it’s rough with a full belly.

Cheek starts up the game and begins talking to me like I’m a toddler.  ”Just try and follow the moves, mom.”  ”You’ll get it eventually, mom.”

She sorely underestimated the bust-a-move ability of her mother.

My husband thinks it’s because I grew up in Long Beach.  Which reminds me of the time I went to visit my friend Shana when she was going to college in Washington (D.C. that is) and someone in her dorm asked me where I was from.

“Long Beach.”

“Ommagosh, so do you know Snoop? (Doggy Dogg, The Doggfather, Uncle Snoop, The Boss Dogg)

“Ummm, yeaaahhhh, we hang out ALL the time.”

Which is obviously how I got all of my moves too.  Fo shizzle.

So when I started getting all of the high scores Cheek started to sweat.  I mean, we were both sweating because this game is all kinds of awesome and is quite the workout.  But she quickly realized she was going to have to step it up.

So began the competition.  Kind of like Wimbledon.  Or Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Over the next few days she began beating all of my high scores, which really pissed me off because she wasn’t even doing all of the moves right!  This literally made me throw a tantrum worthy of a 2 year old.  I mean, I have no problem if you get high score after pop-and-locking like a champion, but if you aren’t going to do The Carlton correctly then you don’t deserve top ranking.

So while she was at school yesterday I systematically went through each song and Just Danced until I got high score on EVERY song.  She has yet to discover my greatness….mmwahahahahaha!

Also, I can’t walk today.  And I’m pretty sure I have Dancer Elbow.

But it will be TOTALLY worth it when I see her face after she realizes I RULE!

Being a mom is hard.  Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done or ever will do.  But part of what makes it so hard is trying to conceal those little things that you can’t stand about it so people don’t think you’re a horrible person.  Nowadays it’s just not acceptable to say how much you HATE playdough and that you think it was invented by the devil because that would mean you’re “stifling your child’s creativity”.  But I’ve decided to out myself and admit to several things a “good” mommy should never admit to.  I’m hoping to start a trend and maybe being honest about the parts of motherhood we hate won’t make us awful moms but, well, honest moms.   Really, it is too exhausting to pretend you enjoy the fact that junior has tracked mud through your house because it means he was having such a good time.  Pah-lease.

1.  I hate kid birthday parties.  I hate throwing them, I hate attending them.  If you’re reading this and I’ve attended your child’s birthday party it means that I really, really like you.  A lot.  This is a post in of itself and one that will come up soon because I just realized the other day that 2011 is the year for BIG birthdays in our house.  Cheek turns 13, Deet turns 5, and Beeb turns 1.  Lord help me, parties are inevitable.

2.  I hate sleepovers, but only when it involves other kids sleeping at my house.  If you want my kid to sleepover at your house, SWEET!  It’s sad, because I loved sleepovers when I was growing up but as a parent the thought of other kids coming over and staying the night makes me break out in a cold sweat….which leads to #3.

3.  I don’t really like other people’s kids.  Except yours, yours is sweet as pie.  It’s those “other” kids I’m talking about.  And it’s not that I can’t appreciate everyone’s own little personalities…from a distance.  But trying to entertain children that are not my own makes me nervous.  (See #1 and #2)  It’s odd because I used to teach preschool and LOVED it.  But all of the kids knew I was in charge when they were in my class.  These days finding a kid that respects other adults (assuming they respect their parents) is like finding a needle in a haystack!  So when they are left in my care I start getting self conscious and wondering if they’re comfortable and happy; if I’m balancing being fun with being in charge enough.  And then I have to scream “WAIT, WHO’S THE BOSS HERE!?!” (in my mind of course, cuz yelling that out loud would just be crazy) and the answer, of course, is Tony Danza.

4.  When I say “maybe” it 99% of the time means no.  But to avoid being found out, and to torture my kids, 1% of the time I say yes.  It’s good to keep them on their toes.

5.  I use the T.V. as a babysitter.  Every day.

6.  I really don’t enjoy getting down on the ground and playing with my kids.  It doesn’t mean I don’t do it, it’s just while I’m doing it I am thinking of everything else I’d like to be doing.  And sometimes I just won’t do it.  It’s good to teach your kids how to play alone, right?  Builds character, or something along those lines.

7.  I can’t stand going to the park.  And by park I mean that area with sand and fiberglass play apparatus (apparati? apparatuses?) that other dirty children have touched or sneezed, spit, or any number of other things on.  Plus, I’m pretty sure homeless people sleep in them…no joke.

That’s it for now.  I’m sure there are more secret confessions I could make but I’d like you to stop just short of thinking I’m an unfit mother.  That was very freeing…you should try it!  You can confess by leaving a comment below.

Also, I want you to know, I will suck it up and venture into any of these territories if it means getting to spend time with my girlfriends.