Mother's Day is Coming So . . .

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Mother's Day is coming (May 13th) and you're probably a good mom and like to spend the day with your kids in honor of your special day. As much as I love their guts, I do that every day. On Mother's Day I prefer to sleep in, go on a jog (without a biking child sidekick), eat good food that has not been touched by childlike germs, read a book, take a nap . . .

So if by chance you might have a free 15 minutes on your special day . . . I'm offering free shipping for Totally Desperate Mom until May 11th. So if you want it, buy it for yourself. Or tell your husband. Or forward him this post with explicit instructions. In other words, don't drop hints. Men are not about the whole "read my mind" or "get this hint" approach. $12 flat. Please email me at wendy at wendyhagen dot net if you want to order and I will email you a paypal invoice.


Here is  what happened to me yesterday when the girls got too tired to scoot home from swim practice and here is an excerpt from the end of  Chapter 5 of Totally Desperate Mom "Newborns: The Black Hole."

Parting Words of Wisdom

Lest you think this book is totally impractical and offers nothing in the way of solid parenting wisdom and direction, here you go. It’s bad enough that as a new mom you pretty much second-guess all the decisions you make. Then along come the Nervous Nellies who offer the same suggestion every time your baby so much as makes a peep. (I am not going to say for sure this is your mom or mother-in-law, but the chances are good.) “I think he’s hungry. I think he wants to eat. You should feed him. When’s the last time you fed him?” Said person was there when you fed the baby thirty minutes earlier.

Here is how you might think about responding: “Oh yeah? I think you’re the one who’s hungry, Mommy Dearest!” It’s worked out well for me. Shuts her right down . . . and makes her cry. It’s okay, though. You might find it good company to have someone to cry with when you are in The Black Hole. Did I mention you might cry a lot in The Black Hole?

Out of the Darkness and into the Light

“Every child is different.” This is one statement “they” say that is actually true. Therefore, every child will chew you up and spit you out of The Black Hole on a different timetable. I cannot definitively say when you will emerge from the stupor, but I can say that it is greatly influenced by the amount of sleep you get. Not every baby sleeps through the night by six weeks or even a year or eight. But even if your baby is not sleeping through the night completely, she will eventually wake up less often. And she will figure out the difference between daytime and nighttime. And you will start to kind of figure things out. You will get more than one thing checked off your to-do list.

I think it is safe to say that by about three months, most women will begin to emerge from the darkness and into the light of the infant stage!

TDM Tip: Give yourself grace during The Black Hole. You are going through a huge life adjustment . . . on completely inadequate sleep. You may feel like you don’t know what you are doing, but God has specifically designed you to be the mom for your child and He knows what He’s doing.

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wendy at wendyhagen dot net if you want the rest of it for twelve bucks.

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Don't Let Moms out of the House . . . or on the Ferry

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No Hollywood post today because my friend Jenny made a video that is Hollywood quality. With Hollywood actors . . . or something like that.

You know how I met Jenny on the Spot in real life a few weeks ago? And we did jumps and whatnot on the ferry? Well, she has put together a slide show . . . and well I am sure at some point in my life I will regret my actions. And perhaps I will regret that my actions are forever on the internet. Until the whole internet phase plays itself out. Until then . . . enjoy our foolishness and feel good about your calm, collected, mature, unassuming, unembarrassing self. May I present to you the indie film Jump Around!

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A Nap for the Totally Desperate Mom

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Sometimes I get tired. During the day time. I'm sure none of you can relate. Sometimes when I am tired I attempt a nap. I put on a show for the girls and try . . . even though it has really only worked out once in my motherhood life. But I'm desperate so I still try from time to time. Like the other day.

Maybe my body appreciates the laying down even though I don't fall asleep because I am interrupted 96 times in a 45 minute period for various "emergencies." Even if my body doesn't appreciate the rest, I am confident that my hair does.

Anyone else crazy enough to attempt to nap during the daytime or are you a better, smarter mom than that?

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Stylin' Saturday - Clips & Jewelry

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Stylin' Saturday - A place to enjoy the uniqueness of children and their wardrobe choices. Also a place for the momfit - when you just can't get it together for What I Wore Wednesday.

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From Jordis . . . If you see it - grab it and put it on. Any location on your body will do.

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Q & A with Jason Marsden of Blue Like Jazz

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If you are new to my blog, on Wednesdays I post about my experience in Hollywood as a former child/teen actress. If you want to start at the beginning of these posts go here.

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This week I have a guest! My friend from my Hollywood Days, Jason Marsden. You can read his previous guest posts here and here to get some more background on him. You may have seen Jason on The Munsters Today or Step by Step or a number of other things. Most recently I hope you saw him in Blue Like Jazz the movie. If not, go see it. He plays a youth pastor you won't like. But it's simply good acting, because you'd like the real Jason. In addition to all his on camera work, you've probably heard Jason's voice in many different places, but hopefully not in your own head. Unless you're him.

Here's my short interview with Jason from a few weeks ago - before I saw the movie. Now that I've seen it (and loved it), I have a few more questions for him and am opening the interview up to you readers. If you have a question for Jason about Blue Like Jazz, leave it in the comment section and it may get answered in part 2 of this Q & A!

Q: When did you first hear about Blue Like Jazz?
A: Well, I heard about it when I got the audition. The script blew me away and after I booked the role I figured some good research would be reading the book as well.

Q: How was this different than other projects you have worked on?
A:Honestly, during production. No different. It felt, moved, smelled like an honest to goodness feature film set. Very capable hands in every department helped bring this to life. I would say that what really set it apart was the overwhelming financial support due to Kickstarter. Clearly fans wanted to see this movie made.

Q: What is your favorite scene in the movie?
A:Besides my own (of course, hee hee ha ha, modest!) when the students, dressed as robots, infiltrate a local bookstore. I begged to be in that scene. I could dress as a bot and no one would know, right? Great, fun moments. Look out for the Don Miller cameo.

Q: Where can we hear the voice of Jason Marsden right now?
A: Where CAN'T you hear me right now (modest)! Currently on the new Hub network in GI JOE: Renegades, Transformers: Rescue Bots, and the upcoming Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters. Some Garfield, some video games, some Scooby Doo, and if you wanna SEE me (in addition to BLJ), check out SpaceGuysinSpace.com

Q: How and what is Clark doing? (Jason and Christy's very premature, miracle child!)

A: Thank you for asking! Clark is 2 years and 2 months strong and continues to rock my world! Not only is he full on walking, climbing and sprinting, he loves talking, telling me "Daddy funny!", obsessively asking for "coco-water" (coconut water), watching "Choo choo Thomas", and winning over the hearts of many with his sweet face, Hemingway curls, and infectious smile. I F'ing love him soooo much! (Sorry, I know there's no cursing on the blog, but when it comes to my boy I just can't contain myself. I hope your readers forgive me). xo

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A pic of Jason and other old Hollywood friends at our fake high school reunion a few years ago. (More pics to come in part 2 of our interview including some on the set of Blue Like Jazz and updated pics of the Marsden family. Come back next week!)

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Stranger Danger - When Bloggers Meet

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I just got back from my trip to Washington where I stayed with a women who I didn't know but she was a friend of a friend. She was delightful, her family was sweet, and I slept with her dog Cedar.

I spoke at the MOPS group at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia and then had lunch with a blogger friend. I call her a friend, but really she could have been an axe murderer. And while that is a great movie (So I Married an Axe Murderer), I usually don't have lunch with axe murderers at restaurants with "Cigar and Tobacco" plastered all over the windows.

Good thing Jody Landers is not an axe murderer - just a bleeding heart for the poor. It was so nice to sit with her and have uninterrupted conversation (no kids) with her at lunch. I loved her. And her heart. Go stalk Jody - mom of six kids (4 bio, 2 adopted), a restored marriage (after adultery), a healing heart (damaged from "church" people), and co-founder of The Adventure Project (trying to eliminate poverty $20 at a time).

Friday night I spoke at a women's event at Westwood Baptist to a lovely group of women - at least half of whom where over sixty, but not Jenny. Although she could have been a 68 year old man named Ron for all I knew.

We were just online friends that met in a chat room about lawn mowers. Okay that's not true. I spotted Jenny on the Spot in 2009. Back when she had braces and was giving away swine flu masks. What's not to like?

So Jenny on the Spot drove an hour and a half to come hear me speak and then drove me back to her neck of the woods. Not joking about the woods. This is her backyard.

And as far as necks go . . .  let's just say I'm working on an awesome post about neck wrinkles.

Jenny took me to her favorite local joint called Applebee's where we had happy hour quesadillas at 11pm and then headed to her place. I'm gonna stop at quesadillas for now cuz it just got better from there and much laughter and deep conversation ensued. But I will tell you this: there were Viking rolls, a sick kid, an RV park, cheerleader jumps on the ferry (great pics of that on Jenny's blog), and Kevin the dog. And yes, I slept with Kevin so go ahead and call me names about my dog co-sleeping habits.

Sorry to leave you hanging without the details of the Jenny/Wendy adventure but . . . a video is coming. And another blog post. You won't want to miss it. Unless you have to do yard work or laundry. Bloggers are a weird breed, no? But you're reading this so I guess that makes you weird too.

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The Bangs? No.

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I got my hair cut and colored last week. When I came home from the salon Jordis (3 1/2) looked at me and said "MOM! It looks like you have a wig on." Elijah (8) said, " I wish you did. Why can't you just have normal hair?" Lydia (5 1/2) said, "You need to get back to normal. It does NOT look good. The bangs? No." Kids rule, don't they? Gotta love their honesty.

My husband is not a fan of bangs which I can't really understand considering my forehead is 46 feet high. Who knew he was a forehead guy? So he kept it safe with "The color looks really good."

 Deep, deep down I know they all liked it. Really, really liked it.

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Someone Just Got Amazon Richer

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We have a winner from the Ultimate Blog Party dealio and her name is #19. She also goes by Jaimie at "The Wonder Years: Musings and Misadventures of Motherhood."  Jaimie's getting $100 to Amazon and a copy of Totally Desperate Mom. And I totally did not pick her because I've met her before and she said I rocked. I will not be won by flattery . . . unless maybe there's some cash with it. But thanks Jaimie.

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Blue Like Jazz - Go See It

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If you are new to my blog, on Wednesdays I post about my experience in Hollywood as a former child/teen actress. If you want to start at the beginning of these posts go here.

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Have you seen the movie Blue Like Jazz yet? I don't know about you, but I don't get to the theaters much these days - with three kids and all. And the cost of a movie being $400. However, I got out last night and saw Blue Like Jazz and loved it! Totally worth it and I'm not just saying that because my old Hollywood friend Jason Marsden was in it. And I'm not promoting Blue Like Jazz because Jason I will be doing a little Q & A on my blog with Jason about the movie in the next few weeks. The story was thoughtful and the casting and acting was legit (Jason played a creep of a youth pastor, but he's not one in real life - a creep or a youth pastor).

Jason and I rocking out at a Teen Beat party in 1990.


With Jason and the ladies a little Hollywood reunion a few years ago.


The movie was (loosely) based on Donald Miller's book (which I loved) which was sort of a memoir of his college life where he walked away from his faith and came back to it with a new set of eyes, a renewed heart, and better understanding of his own worldview. This was a grassroots type of film - funded primarily by people who loved the book. All the more reason I would love to see this film succeed. Watch the trailer and then go see it and let me know what you think. The only part of the movie that I didn't really like was this weird (and brief so that was good) animation stuff. And people floating in space. I'm just not that artsy or something. Other than that, thumbs up.

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Ear Model?

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Was thinking of entering this photo of Jordis in some sort of a contest or submitting it to an ear modeling agency. Do you know of any?

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Ultimate Blog Party 2012 - $100 Amazon Giveaway

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Welcome to Tales from the Motherhood and Confessions of a Former Childhood Actress . . .

This is my third year participating in the Ultimate Blog Party so I finally feel like I know what I'm supposed to wear.

Let's cut to the chase virtual people . . .

If you don't really give a rip about me or my blog or my dirty minivan and just want a prize, then scroll down and see how easy it is for you to win $100 gift card to Amazon and a copy of my book Totally Desperate Mom: Keepin' it Real in the Motherhood.

But if you really like to virtual party and read blogs then allow me to introduce myself . . .

I am Wendy Hagen and wife to Shiloh for almost 14 years and am mom to Elijah (8), Lydia (5 1/2), and Jordis (3 1/2).



This is my headshot I use for my author/speaking stuff.



This is what I look like when I'm cleaning my house. See the resemblance? Me neither.

Before I was married with children and was able to jump rope without pee leaking out, I was child/teen actress Wendy Cox. How did I get into acting? When I was nine years old I decided it was time to get my acting career started so unbeknownst to my parents I looked in the yellow pages, found a talent agency, and left them a message on their answering machine. And there began my acting career which started with print jobs and commercials in the San Francisco area and led me to Hollywood within a few years. When I was fourteen I landed the role of Megan on the syndicated series The New Lassie which lasted for 48 episodes and two seasons. I also appeared on Circus of the Stars and made guest appearances on Growing Pains and The Wonder Years. On Wednesdays I blog about my experiences in Hollywood. I have no criminal record and never went clubbin' with my mom or yours. 

Here is the a clip from the episode of The Wonder Years I guest starred on back in 1992:

That same crazy personality that led me to Hollywood also drove me to write a book of encouragement and humor for moms with young children while I had three children under the age of five. I self-published Totally Desperate Mom in 2010 and ordered 5000 copies. If you know anything about average books sales - that's a lot. Yet another crazy move. If you want to to know more about my self-publishing journey you can read this blog post. I still have a few thousand books to go, but I am determined to sell them - even if I have to use the yellow pages to do it. You can read chapter 1 here and then decide if you would like to help me clear some more out of my garage. Email me at wendy at wendy hagen dot net and tell me you are a virtual partier and I will give you free shipping.

Besides Hollywood, I usually blog about honest, raw, hilarious, gross, classic stuff from my life and the motherhood. You'll probably leave feeling better about yourself. And if you think you don't have room for more blogs in your life you might just want to check in here around Christmas time. Cuz that's when I post my family's worst photos of the year. I mean, who doesn't enjoy feeling better about themselves by seeing OPU (Other People's Ugly)? 

In May Shiloh and I will celebrate 14 years of marriage. I like him and am passionate about healthy marriages . . . and Persian food, Settlers of Catan, good hot chocolate, fitness and health, UCLA sports, and So You Think You Can Dance?

I'm mostly a stay-at-home mom who gets buried in laundry and tries to feed her family healthy meals on a regular basis. But on the side I travel around the country a bit and speak at women's retreats, conferences, MOPS groups, and other women's events. You can check my schedule out on my website and see if I'm gonna be at a church near you. Oh yeah, and sometimes I break dance. 

Here's a clip of my teaching on Simplicity that brings out my serious side. Yes, I do have one. If you have 8 minutes, it's a really cool story about how God has provided for us in our financial struggle.

My condolences if you made it through that long post. Or congratulations on mad scrolling skills that skipped it all and brought you to the prize section. 

Here is how to win a $100 gift card to Amazon.

1. Leave a comment. Any ol' comment will do. But I would love to hear if we have anything in common or a random fact about yourself and a link to your blog. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you are a winnner.

2. Follow via Google Friends Connect. Don't be ashamed. Then leave a comment letting me know you did and that you were not ashamed.

3. Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a comment letting me know you did. And just so you know, chances are good that I won't automatically follow you back. Here's why. Nothing personal.

4. Become a fan/liker of Totally Desperate Mom on facebook. Then leave a comment letting me know you did. Don't worry I won't clutter up your facebook page with a bunch of lame status updates. Only a few here and there. But I promise you - they will be lame.

*If after a month if this blog bores you, or you actually never read it, or my tweets bug - feel free to drop kick me in a month. I don't want to force you to be in this relationship under prize-induced duress.

Get your entries in by April 20th by 9pm PST. I will announce the winner on April 23rd or sooner.

Head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to further participate in this virtual partying!

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Hollywood Days - Lassie Magic Part 2

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If you are new to my blog, on Wednesdays I post about my experience in Hollywood as a former child/teen actress. If you want to start at the beginning of these posts go here.

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When I was 14 I landed the role of Megan on The New Lassie - a syndicated tv show that was a remake of the old one. Totally cheesy just like the old one. Except this time around they had a daughter in the family. That was me. So I found this episode "Once Upon a Time" on YouTube. I posted

part 1 of the Magical Clip a few weeks ago. Here is part 2. Sorry to leave you hanging like that. "What is it girl? There's a bad man that's gonna steal some stuff? What Lassie? That old tall guy really is magical . . ."

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What Quarantine Does to Me

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Not sure if this crazy bug is going around in your neck of the woods, but in Nor Cal watch out. People often say "Oh, that's going around" about everything, but this is no joke. This virus needs a name. Let's call it HGV.

I was jogging on Tuesday afternoon when I began coughing. A deep chest cough. By 3:30 I had a fever and knew that I had HGV. By Wednesday I was in bed and quarantined to my room on direct orders from my husband. I was not let out at all until Saturday - and only with small visitations and backyard access. My husband worked from home and took care of me and the kids. By Friday Lydia and Elijah had contracted HGV and by Friday Jordis's fever made it's first appearance. HGV doesn't care about Shiloh's Birthday (Thursday) or the resurrection Sunday. So watch out. HGV may be coming for you. And also, being cooped up in your room with little to no human contact (just me and my cats) can make you a little bit kookoo.


I even said to my husband on Saturday morning "I'm like Katniss. I'm a shell of who I once was." He just laughed at me. 

Which leads to my next point (does this post really have points?) . . . while I was down I did a few things:

1. Finished book 2 and 3 of The Hunger Games. Thus, I'm calling this the HGV (Hunger Games Virus). Entertaining. Provoking. Well written. Disturbing. And even more disturbing to hear that elementary kids are reading and seeing the movie. Parents, please get brains.  

2. Finished Growing Great Kids by Kate Battistelli.


I can guarantee you Kate wouldn't have had Francesca Battistelli (her Grammy award winning daughter) reading or watching the Hunger Games at a young age. Reading this book made me really appreciate my parents who supported me in my acting endeavor's just as Francesca's parents have strongly supported Francesca's passions and giftings all the way to the top of the Billboard Charts. The book really covers a lot of bases in terms of helping "your children become everything God made them to be." Go check it out! I don't know Kate, but when I found out I was introducing Francesca at the Design 4 Living Conference (where I kind of breakdanced) I contacted Kate to get some dirt and some old pics on Francesca. She obliged and we have since exchanged books!

3. Read bible, prayed, worked on upcoming talks. Heading to Olympia Washington in less than 2 weeks! What do I need to know about Washington? I've never been. I just think coffee, grunge bands, purple and maroon (from UW and WSU), and rain. Is there more?

4. Got buggy with my status updates on FB. You know - posted way too many insignificant updates in a short amount of time? Like for example:

Now some of you like annoying updates and now want to be friend with me on FB. Please refrain unless you know me. Otherwise you might get backed up in my Facebook Purgatory. You know the place where people sit in your queue waiting to be accepted? And you feel like you should know them because you have 48 mutual friends, but you really have no idea who they are and they didn't even bother to send you a little note like "Hey, I sat in front of you Geometry our Sophomore year. We never talked, but hey now." Anyway, you can like my Totally Desperate Mom page on facebook if you really want to connect with me in a Facebook kind of way. I would like that.

5. Joined Pinterest. I know, I know. I told you I went kookoo. Simmer down. I think I feel a post welling up in me "Pinterest, I'm Just Not That Into You." The first food item I posted was this delicious looking cupcake. Then I went to the source to look at the recipe. And it was a cupcake bakery. No recipe. I could just order the cupcake online. Pinterest, do you have no rules? Isn't that illegal?

6.  Started the book Siblings Without Rivalry. And while I have picked a term from 1953 "mad as the dickens" I'm not sure yet if the book will be all that helpful and insightful.

7. Watched the move Contagion which was entertaining and highly creepy considering the viral state of our family

8. Was blessed by some friends that have kind of adopted our children. They brought over Easter goodies for the kids, Sprecher's root beer for Shiloh, and a pedicure gift certificate for me!

9. Was blessed by my mom bringing us a ton of food, groceries, and Easter goodies.

10. Wrote this amazing and informative post that can be passed down through the generations.

And despite most of our Easter looking this . . .

By five o'clock the Easter mom (me) hid eggs in our backyard that the Easter Grandma (my mom) had delivered earlier. Plastic eggs filled mostly with cash so the kids could pay us back for all the Tylenol and Advil they have gone through. Gary Busey even awoke from her nap anxious to find the eggs!



And for the record, I don't think I'm the only one who went a little crazy during my confinement . . .

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you can avoid HGV - especially if you've already read Hunger Games because then we might need to rename the virus and that would confusing for the vaccine companies. How was your holiday weekend?

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Happy Easter

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Happy Easter Friends!
Feel free to mix your Easter shirt with your Christmas skirt because it's all about Jesus!

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What I Want You to Know

Pin It Now! I case you missed it yesterday . . . I did a little guest post over at Rage Against the Minivan as a part of the "What I Want You To Know" series.

Here's what I want you to know about Ariel's Grotto:

1. It's is not just for rich people. It's for people with rich grandparents who give them money to take their kids there (us). It's also for people who are rich in Disneyland lanyards and pins (Kristen). For one adult and one child to dine at the Grotto it costs $68.97. The good news? That includes the tip, drinks, and crayons.

Read the rest over at Rage Against the Minivan. Pin It Now!

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Road Trippin' With My 3-year-old, Part 3

Pin It Now! This is part 3 of my story about my adventures on the road with my three-year-old, Jordis. And yes, I'm crazy. Read Part 1 and Part 2.

Over 1000 miles covered. Spoke at 3 churches and visited 3 Coffee Beans. Stayed with 4 different friends. And visited strangers . . . and that's where the story picks up. Stranger danger meet-ups. AKA bloggerville. Not weird at all, just ask my husband.

After I spoke at Crossline Church in Laguna Hills, Jordis and I headed to Irvine and met my virtual friends. Met them a few years ago in a chat room when I was posing as a 68 year-old man. This was my first time really meeting Kristen who rages against minivans all day long so I brought my minivan and my mace. Of course there were wild kids running around (ours) the joint and gusts of winds at 30MPH so we didn't quite have major heart to hearts . . . but I know from reading her blog that Kristen and I have a lot in common. Including a minivan, a heart for adoption (she's adopted two boys and well, we tried...), a heart for justice, and a twist of sarcasm. I dug Kristen and only had to use my mace on her twice. Kristen has series on her blog called "What I Want You to Know" and what I want you to know about that is that I'm over there guest posting today. So go there and let your life be inspired and changed forever.

We also lunched with Julie of Joy's Hope. She actually was not stranger danger because I met her a few years ago when she was here for Project 320 stuff. She is a sweet, quiet spirit with some hidden spunk and sass much of which can be found on her blog. And she hearts me, which is cool. Cuz I'd hate to be on her bad side even though she probably doesn't even have one. Her husband probably does though because he's a drummer - for the OC SUPERTONES! They are making a comeback and need your support. Go check out their kickstarter action and pre-order their album!

* This week only - Order my book Totally Desperate Mom: Keepin' it Real in the Motherhood for a much better deal than the Grotto! $10 and free shipping! Say that you came over from Rage Against the Minivan and I will include a mace keychain with your order.

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10 Bucks, Free Shipping & No Private Jets

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Jesus has risen so I'm dropping my price for the week - Easter week special on Totally Desperate Mom!

Monday April 2nd until Monday, April 9th you can get your copy directly from me for $10 and FREE SHIPPING. That's only four cents more than you can get it on the big dog and that's only if you have free shipping. Plus, they take a big chunk of the cash and then use it for private jets and stuff . . . or so I've heard.

Just email me at wendy at wendyhagen dot net and let me know how many copies you would like and if you want them signed by me or any of my kids or my cats. Include your paypal email address and mailing address and I will send you an invoice for payment. Remember Mother's Day is right around the corner so you might want to forward this link to your three-year-old.

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What people who have read the book are saying (not under duress):

Just finished reading your book last night. Can I say? Best. Motherhood. Book. Ever. I've read countless 'prepare you for being a mom' books and books about mothering little ones, but yours is the most up-front and real, yet compassionate and understanding, I've ever read. In fact, not only will I give it a five-star review on the blog, I plan to recommend (and buy it for) every one of my friends who are about to be new moms.

I just adore Wendy's candid writing style. This book, for me, was a wonderful trip down memory lane. My children are now ten and seven, but I remember the "desperate" stage as if it was yesterday. I love moms who are willing to share the real experience of motherhood. Wendy's book was perfect to read a little at a time in the carpool line ~ and the perfect gift for all my mommy friends!

I received this book as a gift from my best friend after my second child. I wish I had it with my first. Reading Wendy's book is like sharing with your best friend war stories from pregnancy to early motherhood. She literally opens the door to the life of a REAL mom. It really put things in perspective because sometimes you think you're at it alone. Her style is direct and funny. There was numerous times where I would burst out laughing out loud! This book is absolutely encouraging for new moms and a delight to read.
*Although this book is faith based (Christian), it is a great read for all. The experience as a whole is the same for new mothers, regardless of each individual's belief system (as long as you're open-minded).

Preview the first chapter here. (The chapters only take about 15 minutes each and do not require a ton of brain power to get through.)

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Road Trippin' With My 3-year-old, Part 2

Pin It Now! This is part 2 of my story about my adventures on the road with my three-year-old, Jordis. Read Part 1 here. Over 1000 miles covered. Spoke at 3 churches and visited 3 Coffee Beans. Including one in Long Beach. And that's where we pick up on our story . . .

On our way to Orange County we made a pit-and-play stop in Long Beach so we could visit some more friends. People, when did Long Beach get so awesome? The downtown area is so cute and they have a Coffee Bean.

We had lunch and played in the park with my UCLA friend Kelly and her adorable twin girls. We also lunched and played with my acting days friend (and UCLA!) Christina and her little boy. You might recognize Christina from Cloak and Dagger or Out of this World because . . . well, she was on them.

After our play time we headed to Laguna where we stayed with my friend Kerry who was an accomplice on the Kirk Cameron stalking story. We have been friends since we were about 10 years old and I am sad to report I didn't take any pictures with her.

I spoke at Crossline Community Church's MOPS group and no one threw eggs at me. Probably because they all thought I was a long lost sister of their coordinator. She's my new friend and we have a lot in common including mad crafting skills.

Then I went off to meet my virtual friends. But I don't want to overwhelm you since I probably just exceeded your attention span of 140 characters. Part 3 to come. Dang, is this like the Hunger Games or what?

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Stylin' Saturday - School Clothes

Pin It Now! Stylin' Saturday - A place to enjoy the uniqueness of children and their wardrobe choices. Also a place for the momfit - when you just can't get it together for What I Wore Wednesday.
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I worked out at home. Then it was time to get my daughter from kindergarten. So I threw on some rain boots and my coat. Because that's what I do. I put awesome outfits together without even having to get help from a website or a magazine. And when I realize the awesomeness of my outfit I think Yes, Im going out of the house like. Yes, I am getting out of the car. And yes I will see and talk to other moms. I better have my three-year-old capture the awesome.

Do you or your kids wear any awesome this week? Please leave the link so I can smile at your awesome.

Okay party people, grab a button and link up your awesome! This is no JOKE.

<center><a href="http://hagenhoopla.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Stylin’ Saturday" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad6/wendyhgaen/makeup-2-1-1.jpg" /></a></center>

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