I’m doing my best Marilyn Monroe here.

Well HIS name is Mr. Big Dubya isn’t it?!

I wanted to wish you a very happy 40th Big D–with no jokes about old age.

Oh! And an old friend of yours wanted to send his regards as well…

I have Stevie Wonder coursing through head. Granted I’ve changed the words a bit, but sing with me.

Isn’t he lovely? Isn’t he wonderful?
Isn’t he precious? More than thirty years old.
I never knew through blogging I’d be
Reading someone as lovely as he
But isn’t he lovely the one who blogs with love.

And who is this man? Why the amazing Kevin Charnas of course!

I nominated this post by Kevin for the April Perfect Post award. Honestly, there were a few more that followed that could have easily been nominated as well, but I’m impulsive and sent in my nomination the minute I read it. There were also these posts in April too.

Please take some time to go visit Kevin and read much more than this post. He is alternately the funniest, snarkiest, most sensitive and large-hearted person around. Oh, and I think he’s okay too.

The woman who first won my heart in the blogosphere nominated me?!! This silly blog where I let spew the inane thoughts clogging my brain? Shoot, I was just using it as an excuse to delay cleaning. I know, I know, Mom. I’ve been successfully doing THAT since before Al Gore invented the internet.

But check this out…

Thanks Karrie. I’m humbled that you’d even think of me. Can’t wait to lay eyes on you in Chicago!!

Rolling Stone called and wanted an exclusive with a nerd girl super-cool blogger. I told them I was sorry, but they’d have to get in line behind the two cracked journalists who had already submitted their requests (oh, okay! They offered to throw me some questions and jumped all over the chance).

First from Wonder Mom.

1. New Orleans makes me feel:
Happy. At home. Warm. Creative. Carefree. There is just something about having lived there. It became part of who I am. I wish I could lay more claim to the city than just four short years, but I’ll take those. It is by far my favorite city in the country. The greatest thing about New Orleans is that it’s warts and scars are part of its charm. I guess I’m just a sucker for character.

2. What’s the most boring day you have ever had?
Oh what I wouldn’t give for a boring day! It’s so hard to think back far enough to find one. You know there isn’t one that immediately comes to mind, but if I were to guess, I’d say it probably involved a family road trip when I was a kid stuck in the back seat with my sister. I’m sure she spent the entire trip “on my side.”

3. What is your favorite keepsake from motherhood?
I’d say it has to be the photographs. The boys are all growing so quickly that I’m shocked when I look back at pictures from just last year and notice how much they’ve changed. I love capturing their smiles, their funny faces, their fashion statements.

4. Do you still want to be a rock star?
Definitely!! You have no idea how cool I think it would be to rock out on stage, belting out amazing tunes. Of course, I’d be stick skinny and probably dress like Joan Jett. I’d want to kick-ass but have a soft side too. Unfortunately, there’s a better chance of me winning the Pulitzer Prize for blogging (and you’ve read my blog) than there is of me developing the ability to carry a tune.

So instead I don my iPod and pretend when I’m all alone.

5. I saw you posted this is June..update it. Mamma loves…
This all goes back to the origin of my blog’s name. I have this fantasy of opening my own shoe boutique. I want to call it Mamma Loves Shoes (because I do indeed LOVE shoes). Since that didn’t look like it was going to happen in the near future, I adapted the title for my blog. The idea was that I would talk about things I loved and things I didn’t. I couldn’t stick to the format but the name was already there.

Today Mamma Loves…

All of her guys
Her family
P-Funky
The book club girls
Friends in low places
Her bloggy friends
Danger Doll (for the free advice that even a ludite like me could use to pretty up the joint)
Her adopted twin nieces (and their mamma of course)
The Latvian Princess

(and in no particular order)
A day at the spa
Mojitos
Shoes
Good music
The sound of her guys’ laughter
Warm sunshine
Long, passionate kisses
Her garden
Shoes
End-of-the-year bonuses
Massages
Comments (yes I’m a whore for a good comment–so leave one dammit)
A great bag (a girl can dream)
The beach
Diet Coke
Shoes
Helicopter rides
Hawaii
The perfect color lipstick
Laughing
Shoes

And from Mrs. Chicky

1. How old were you when you got your first kiss? What were thecircumstances?
With tongue? That would be sixth grade—which is horrifying since my oldest is finishing up fifth grade now. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was standing at the corner of the school building on my way to my bus and my “boyfriend” Chris told me he wanted me to walk the long way with him and when he was sure no one was looking he laid one on me. I think I was shocked. I may have kissed him back, but I’m sure it couldn’t have been for more than a few seconds and then I ran for my bus blushing like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve definitely refined my skills since then.

2. If you could pick to go anywhere, where is the perfect vacationdestination?
A sparsely populated Caribbean beach with my own cabana boy to bring me frozen fruity drinks, adjust my umbrella, ensure the proper coverage of suntan lotion and fan me as necessary.

3. Did you play sports in high school? If yes, which one(s)? If no, why?
Ah yes, I was a tennis player. I wasn’t very good at sticking to a practice schedule, but it was fun. I wish I still played as much as I did. I’ve been thinking about getting back into it.

4. Favorite movie couple: Hepburn and Tracy or Jolie and Pitt?
No contest. Hepburn and Tracy hands down. Katharine Hepburn is one of my idols. What an incredible woman.

5. What is your favorite article of clothing that you own?
Now you’d think it would be a pair of shoes, but right now I’m not in love with any particular pair I own. I’d have to say it’s my denim jacket. It seems to go with almost anything. I’ve worn a denim jacket in one form or another since middle school—not the same one, don’t worry. I think it sort of sums up my personality. I used to be a tomboy as a kid but I’m definitely became more girly in high school—not too girlie though. I’ll wear a skirt and flats and then throw on my denim jacket to head out. I don’t know. I guess it makes me feel like I can be dressed up but I still don’t have to take life too seriously.

I’d like to thank my two gracious interviewers for their terrific questions. Should you like a reason to tell Rolling Stone “NO,” just give me a shout and I’ll send some questions your way.

Happend so fast. Summer lovin’. Someone was having a blast.

Actually a number of someones.

Something about the pre-Fourth of July weekend must have been damn sexy in the late 60’s/early 70’s, because, as I’ve discovered cruising the blogosphere this week, there are a ton of last week of March babies running around.

For instance, there’s my British friend, a Pissed-Off Housewife and then Kristin’s husband. Speaking of husbands, Deb gets to celebrate hers with a husband who has culinary skills!

And there’s been some recent additions to this prestigious club as well. Check out the link. The sextuplets are ADORABLE!! And one of the kiddos over at the Circus is celebrating as well this week.

All fabulous people of course. You know how I know? Cause I’m one of them!

Thirty-six years ago tonight I was all warm and cozy, ignorant of the cold cruel world. Some time during the next 24 hours the kid–who I like to say was conceived in the back of a Trans-Am most likely to Led Zepplin–was brought into this world. Lucky for me there was an incredible women waiting for just such a baby to be born and ten short days later I was hers.
She’s been stuck with me ever since. Seriously, you should feel sorry for my mom.

Okay, enough pitiful attempts to garner some birthday wishes…we have some real love to talk about.

First, I still haven’t been asked to the prom, BUT I do have a date to BlogHer. I am going, and I’m happy to report that the southern darling Canape (pronounced in her language as can-I-pee?) has asked me and I have gladly accepted.

Are you so jealous or what?

I got the cutest girl at the event to invite ME. Can you believe it?! Yeah, me either. I’m so excited I can barely stand it, but more on BlogHer and my fabulous date later.

What I’m jazzed about at this particular moment is that we are just hours away from our first annual blog prom weekend!

Over the next three days the folks on the guest list to the right will be blogging about their prom experience, or lack of prom experience, or about proms in general (hey it’s the blogosphere–and I’m not that into rules). So join us if you’d like! And don’t worry about getting a date. You’d just dump them as soon as you got there so you could hang out with us anyway.

Tell me you’re coming and I’ll add you to the guest list. And Leah–there was no link to your blog in my comments. Email me the address and I’ll add you.

Oh, and there may be a prize, but don’t tell anyone.

Now dig out those pictures. Make new ones. Tell us about prom. And get around to meet all of the guests. Mingle dammit! That’s an order!

You wouldn’t want to disappoint a girl on her birthday. Would you?!

A giant THANK YOU to all of the terrific folks who reached out to me today with the supportive comments. I will come back and properly thank you in a moment, but now? Now I must go yell at MySpace.

I’m sure you’ve heard, they’re removing breastfeeding pictures–but the soft-core porn shots of all the teenage girls can stay. I’m off to go set up an account and post a breastfeeding image.

I’ll be back.