playing catch up.

I'm totally stealing this post from the Drama Mama since we both seem to have fallen off the face of the blog-o-sphere this past week. It's nice to be in good company when you're being a blog slacker! 

She passed on the Blogger Buddy award to us this week - wasn't that nice? The rules for this award are that I have to tell you seven facts about myself & then pass the award on to some deserving bloggers. 

Facts about me:

1. I'm so excited that Cassidy will start pre-school this week. It's bittersweet but I know she'll have such a good time & I am really looking forward to having some one on one time with Kalea.
2. I wear flip flops all.summer.long. This year I got a pair of Chacos on sale this year using our REI reward & have worn "real" shoes less than 5 times since May. 
3. I was born a Nittany Lion but, since marriage, have mixed allegiance to the Dawgs.
   
4. I love blogging but am glad I don't feel obliged to post all.the.time.
5. My sisters & I all had the same initials prior to marriage. My dad & his brother do too.
6. I'm a natural blonde....ish. :)
7. I probably should join a 12-step program due to my baby-wearing addiction. Just bought our 5th baby carrier this week (an Ergo - I couldn't help it. It was half off at BabySteals & I'm in love!)

Deserving awardees:

1. Mommy of a Monster (I Mean Toddler) and Infant Twins
2. A Stone's Throw From Insanity
3. Shamrocks and Shenanigans

Thanks again Drama Mama! 

bloggers block

I've had blogger's block for a while & found this inspiration on Beth's website. It's kind of a get-to-know-you thing. Enjoy...& feel free to post comments or reply with your own answers. Hopefully it will jump start my brain & we'll be back to our regularly scheduled blogging in no time!

1. Would you rather host party or simply attend a party? host - it gives me something to do
2. Tell us about the most memorable party you've been to. the reception after our wedding - nearly everyone we love was in the same place celebrating
3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life? peace
4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine? rainbows
5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift? depends on the person
6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family? I'd rather have someone clean for us since I enjoy cooking much more!
7. What song describes your mood today? Not sure...I can only think of kids songs, it seems that is what I hear most these days.
8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.) lots of kitchen things - most recently rediscovered is our big food processor
9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is? raspberry with dark chocolate chunks
10. When was the last time you felt "tested?" about 3 hours ago getting a toddler out of bed, dressed & out the door
11. Natural Cheetos is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop.
12. Seeing results is the best motivation.

why blog?

A friend asked me the other day why I blog. In the age of crazed social media options, instant access to news, fashion, TV shows, friends you lost track of 10 years ago, people who you may want to lose track of but who have tracked you down, etc. it does seems a little self gratifying to think that people would want to read what I write. Still, I do it.  

I mentioned the other day that I miss writing, you know, the kind of academic writing I did in college & graduate school. Slow meticulous writing that started & stopped in the midst of research & rationalizing, weighing words & phrases in order to evoke the exactly what I meant to get across. This writing, however, is different than academic writing. Not that blogging doesn't require some amount of editing, thinking & capturing of thoughts, but it's more immediate & segmented. And, I'm learning, it's a heck of a lot more interactive. We're starting to get more traffic & comments here, which I enjoy. I feel like a whole world is opening up to me.

I came across this article on The Atlantic online that I thought captured the essence of that thought. My favorite part of the article said, "There is, after all, something simply irreplaceable about reading a piece of writing at length on paper, in a chair or on a couch or in bed. To use an obvious analogy, jazz entered our civilization much later than composed, formal music. But it hasn’t replaced it; and no jazz musician would ever claim that it could. Jazz merely demands a different way of playing and listening, just as blogging requires a different mode of writing and reading. Jazz and blogging are intimate, improvisational, and individual—but also inherently collective. And the audience talks over both. The reason they talk while listening, and comment or link while reading, is that they understand that this is a kind of music that needs to be engaged rather than merely absorbed. To listen to jazz as one would listen to an aria is to miss the point. Reading at a monitor, at a desk, or on an iPhone provokes a querulous, impatient, distracted attitude, a demand for instant, usable information, that is simply not conducive to opening a novel or a favorite magazine on the couch. Reading on paper evokes a more relaxed and meditative response. The message dictates the medium. And each medium has its place—as long as one is not mistaken for the other"

So, five reasons why I blog.  Not necessarily the top five, but just five of many: 

1. to create a narrative: a living memory of our lives to share with others & for my kids to look back on when they're growing up.  and for me to look back on when I'm old & can't remember anything.
2. to use my brain at a higher level than a two year old: i love my girls, but participating in conversation with others keeps from checking into the local mental ward.
3. i'm slightly obsessive: i admit that this blog was just a little side project until i started noticing all the cool kid's blogs so i had to ramp it up some. 
4. i like learning new things: my inner geek just shines when i figure out how to make something happen on here or when i get to show someone else how to do something at all "techie."
5. it's an ego boost: i don't know if i'll ever meet most of the people who read this blog, because people I never, ever would have known - for better or for worse - now stop by & say hi. in reference to #2, it is sometimes a little isolating to be at home with the kiddos. even with playdates & gym classes & trips to the park, conversations with other adults can be few & far between. getting to "know" people who might be sharing the same experiences as i am & who can give advice or a simple hooray for the little things boosts the ego.  and, really, who couldn't use an ego boost on occasion?

So friends, why do you blog?  Or why not?

hi my name is...

It's been a while since I spent some time in the blog-o-sphere finding new blogs or saying hi to some of the kind people to visit our blog. Although it's no excuse, my dad left today after a 10 day visit - which, by the way, the girls just loved - so I have a few minutes to explore.  What better way to get back in the swing of things than with "The Ultimate Blog Party."

I realize that I've never done a "proper" introduction of myself or my little family since lumpsonablog began as a little project for family members only.  Although most of the traffic that we get is still family, I've noticed a growing number of hits in places we don't have family.  So, without further ado, the intro.

I'm Jackie, the main contributor to this blog & the momma of our clan. I turned 30 last August &, other than adding another munchkin to the mix a month later, decided that I needed a new project.  Enter blog makeover. It's a work in progress with some halts & stammers & inspiration from great blog-o-friends (shout out to three pugs & a baby!) I'm slowly moving toward a more finished place. I realize that, at least at this point, this isn't going to be a money making blog, or one that get a gazillion followers, but I'm happy with how it's progressing. When I'm not blogging, I work as an event coordinator/special projects manager/do-what-the-boss-needs-done-person. It's not what I want to do when I grow up (which is an entire post in & of itself) but it works for now. I feel good that I, at least, work for an organization whose mission I believe in & have a great boss who has worked with me for the past three years or so since I first got pregnant with C & wanted a more flexible work schedule.  Since K was born I've moved from full-time work to part-time work.  I love that I can spend three days a week with my girls, watching them explore, grow, learn & play. Although there are those days, I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

So, my friends, that's the intro.  I'm sure there's more to tell about me, but at least you've got the nutshell picture.  I'm so glad you stopped by to visit - be sure to leave a comment & a way I can find your blog so I can come visit you!

Happy Blogging!

The Ultimate Blog Party is such a neat way to find new blog-o-friends & ideas. I'm so excited to start surfing. What's also cool is that they have some great prizes to give away. Part of the fun is to make a wish list & link your top three to the blogs that have generously donated gifts. My wish list would include: the $100 gift gift eCertificate to Restaurant.com provided by Amy LeForge of Earnest Parenting, a custom made tutu for my little one provided by Healthy Moms – The Number One Health Blog for Moms or Nellie Bug’s, or basically any of the gift cards or items for little girls on the list. I'm so impressed!