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Something I Want to Try This Year – I Want To Drive A Race Car.. on a Race Track!

Alicia — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:57:11 +0000

36 years ago, I was brought home from the hospital at two days old in an orange Porsche 911. Ever since then, well maybe not until I was about 8, I have loved cars. I thought Jaguars were the coolest car for the longest time and I can tell you what just about any car (make) is just from a side view. I can even out-do my husband in that game! My dad used to take my sister and I to the Daytona International Speedeay and I loved watching the races but was scared of the loud noise.

I loved cars up until about ten years ago when I had a car accident which left me fearful of driving and of being a passenger in a car, for a long time. My son (1.5 years old at the time) was in the back seat of my parked SUV when the SUV started rolling down my steep driveway. I had already gotten out of the car and had opened his door when it started rolling down the driveway. I tried to get back in the front seat to push on the break but I didn’t make it and instead was trapped under the car rolling down the steep driveway for about 100 feet after which the car landed on top of me. I was later told that I suffered a mild stroke during the accident which may be why I’m so crazy these days. I was pinned under the front wheel of the SUV for some time until Firemen got to me and were able to get me out from under the car. I was in physical therapy (and regular therapy) for some time after the accident due to nerve and muscle damage and have some residual issues but for the most part, I’m fine now.. physically at least.

Just in the last couple of years I’ve become more comfortable with driving and with being a passenger again. In fact, I took a big step by attending a Honda Ride and Drive event in San Diego last Fall, where besides driving the Odyssey through the hills of San Diego myself, I got to ride on a closed course at Qualcomm Stadium with a professional driver. Riding on the closed course at Qualcomm Stadium, going 60 mph around sharp turns (safely) gave me an adrenaline rush that I hadn’t felt in a long time and helped me get over some of my fear of being a passenger and of driving in risky situations.

Since realizing that driving isn’t all that bad, I want to try something.. I want to drive a race car on a real race track! This would be a huge step for me mentally. Like I said earlier, I am more comfortable with driving now but am not all the way there yet. I still look at cars as accidents waiting to happen and have got to get over that completely which I think a race car driving experience will do for me. I may have to wear some Pampers (yes, a P&G plug!) while driving the race car but darned it I’m not going to make it happen! I’m not sure how I can make that happen but now that I’ve realized that I CAN DO IT, I am going to look into how I can accomplish this, this year. Maybe I’ll even have a special pink and purple slip on a firesuit made just for me to wear during my race car driving experience!

I was inspired to write this post in response to The Divine Miss Mommy‘s article about a P&G Media Event in Miami. P&G products are part of our every day lives here in the Hagan household. We use the Swiffter WetJet, Gillett razores, Pantene shampoo and conditioner, Charmin toilet paper (too personal?), and will ONLY use Cascade dishwasher detergant.. all P&G brands, but there are several P&G brand products that I haven’t tried yet but would love to try including Lacoste Fragrances and Cover Girl’s Eye Enhancers 4 Shadow Kit (drama eyes) because I need to learn that it’s OK to stand out a little sometimes.. with purple eye shadow!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and let me know what you want to try this year in the comments below!

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Mom-guilt anyone?

Alicia — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:45:06 +0000

The mom-guilt is never ending.

I feel guilty if I don’t play a game with Madelyn right when she wants me to or if I don’t have time to go outside and play ball with Sebastian when he asks.

It’s because I work from home. I have to remind myself that just because I work in a home office and the kids know I’m here, doesn’t mean that I’m available to play with or provide entertainment for them. I can’t feel guilty about that… I’m working for goodness sakes! I have more of an issue with it than they do I think.

I’ve been working from home for 10 years now (atlantamoms.com and themommyinsider.com) and wouldn’t have it any other way but you’d think that I would have learned to deal with the mom-guilt by now!?

I feel guilty. A lot. I don’t like it.

Do you have mom-guilt? What about and how do you cope?

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I need your help with my 3 year old..please

Alicia — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:35:34 +0000

Please forgive any spelling errors. I wrote this post on my iPhone.

I need your help with my 3 year old..please is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!

My top 5 New Year’s Resolutions Plans

Alicia — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:26:27 +0000

All posts in this series:

Here is a list of things my kids use everyday or almost everyday:

Nalgene Sippy cups (my 3 year old, not my 10 year old!) – See this
The kids wear mostly Old Navy, Gap, and Children’s Place clothes
My 10 year old uses a Philips Sonicare toothbrush made for kids – See this
My son uses a Compaq or Toshiba laptop, whichever he prefers that day. They are both old. He’s not that spoiled!
tatutina dishware – See this

Zoocchini dishware – See this
Tots and Tails Designs baby blanket – My 3 year old carries these everywhere.. literally
Britax car seat – See this
Nurf guns – See this

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I took a whole week off! Back to life now

Alicia — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:17:33 +0000

I realized a few minutes ago that it’s Saturday which means that I took a whole week off of work, a first in many years. Even while on vacation I usually have my laptop with me, answer emails, write posts on The Mommy Insider and my other site Atlanta Moms, and I have even been known to take phone calls while on vacation. It felt really good to not do any of the above while in Florida last week.

Exactly one week ago the kids and I and my sister drove to Orlando to visit and celebrate Christmas with my Dad and step-mom. We had an incredible time. Between ice skating and an amazing trip to Disney World we relaxed at their house which has a beautiful lake small enough that we swim in (no alligators) during our Spring and Summer visits.

Today I am going to extend my vacation a little bit by spending time cleaning out my car and I am going to go through the kids gifts so I can actually see what they got. Not to mention cleaning, laundry, etc.

Then when things settle down later in the afternoon (am I kidding myself?), I am going to transfer all of my files and programs from my MacBook White to my new MacBook Pro that I haven’t use since I got it from my Dad Tuesday! Talk about torture! It’s so pretty and shiny and I am a total geek so not using a brand new super duper laptop is extremely difficult for me.

Have a great weekend and I’m going to put some photographs of our Orlando vacation up soon so subscribe to my (almost) daily RSS feed or weekly newsletter to be notified when I update the site.

Alicia

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