Popular Posts – Angie Mizzell

A year in review

December 28, 2011 By Angie 35 Comments

I started this blog in 2008. And this year, something clicked. I got comfortable with my own voice and sharing more stories about my life and you reciprocated by showing up, adding to the conversation and sticking around.

Today’s post is embedded with links, so follow your whimsy. Pretend you’re eating popcorn with your feet propped up on the coffee table and watching one of those cool year ender videos on the nightly news. It adds to the effect.

In 2011…

I visited Disney World for the first time and discovered it really is the happiest place on earth, until you stand in front of me and block my view of the parade.
Charleston had a not-so-snow day—a sleet day—which prompted me to pull out old photos of my grandma in a bikini and reveal the dash of crazy that makes up my DNA.
Another photo surfaced—a screen shot of my first television news live shot—and we reflected on the things we’d tell our 22-year-old selves.
As I completed my memoir, you rallied and helped me make an inspiration playlist. And I confessed what I really wanted all those years I climbed the ladder of TV news success. Turns out, it’s what most of us want.
I stopped waking up at 4am to write, but that post got lots of you talking about your daily routines and how you create space for the things you love.

Dillon turned 5.

I said goodbye to the first house my boys, husband and I shared as a family.

Then, we all gathered around the confessional and exposed our relationship with clutter.

I declared summertime The Frat Party of 2011.

Eventually we bid farewell to lazy days and I sent Dillon off to kindergarten.

We laughed when I paraded around town in my cheetah suit and exposed Lou Mello for who he really is.
You celebrated with me when I announced a baby girl is on the way.
You didn’t turn me in to authorities when I revealed my mom tip for staying sane: I tie my kids to the coffee table. In fact, some of you were right behind me, waiting to sign up for lasso lessons.

Overall, we spent 2011 goofing off, reflecting on what really matters and recognizing we need to just keep swimming. Thanks to you, this little slice of cyberspace felt a lot like home.

What are your most memorable moments of 2011? If you’d like to ring in the New Year with me and this band of characters, click here to subscribe to my blog.

Filed Under: Just for Fun, Popular Posts

Hey Cowboy, may I borrow your rope?

November 7, 2011 By Angie

Friday was Cowboy Day at Dillon’s school. Notice my cowboy refused to participate in the dress-up portion, despite the fact that I sent him to school with a bandanna and a hat. As my husband said, “He’s a lot more boy and a little less cow.”

Ironically, Dillon had great fun playing the role of cow during the assembly as Cowboy Henry wrangled him. After the show, I said, “I need to borrow that rope.” I stood there, smiling, waiting for lasso lessons.

Cowboy Henry laughed.

Um, you think I’m kidding?

All this cowboy talk to let you know that I’ll be on the 96.9 The Wolf radio show tomorrow. It’s part of the station’s Total Wellness Tuesday series. Ryan, Tyler and Jessica want to talk to me about moms staying mentally focused in the midst of the challenges of everyday life: kids and work and housework and the holidays, oh my! Apparently, they think I’m qualified to talk about this, or perhaps, that I can provide some insight into the real-life world of motherhood.
Let’s travel for a moment into my living room. This is my other son, making himself comfortable on the coffee table. Does he think he blends in with that red sweater and green pants? The photo was taken by Daddy, the biggest boy of them all. And then he emailed it to me with the subject line, “What coffee table?”

I’m fighting a losing battle here, people.

So I wonder what the folks at The Wolf and their listeners will say tomorrow when I tell them my real secret to staying mentally focused?

I tie them up.

It’s true. I tie them all to the coffee table and leave them there. For hours. I bet people will be lined up outside the radio station waiting for my autograph.

Yes? No?

If you live in Charleston, tune into 96.9 tomorrow morning. I’m scheduled to go on around 8:20. Or you can listen to the streaming audio live by clicking here.

And click here if you’d like my blog delivered to your reader or inbox.

Filed Under: Life with Kids, Popular Posts

Go on with your bad, beautiful self

September 9, 2011 By Angie

I can tell you this much: After 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the last thing I feel is beautiful. I rarely go out in the late afternoon, typically declining invitations for get-togethers and networking events. I’m not saying I *never* leave the house at that time of day, but I definitely pick and choose.

I’m on the board for the Center for Women, and yesterday, we had a meeting at 5:30. So around 4:30, I loaded the kids in the car and drove from West Ashley to Mount Pleasant to drop the kids off at my husband’s office. Then I got back in the car and drove from Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston to make the 5:30 meeting.

“I just made a giant loop around Charleston,” I thought to myself as I drove over the Ravenel Bridge. And then I realized something else: I didn’t think twice about traveling in a big circle. To me, the Center for Women is worth leaving the house an hour early. This group of women is worth the extra miles.

When I entered the meeting, right on time, I fully understood why. Being a part of this organization fills me up. It enhances my life. After I said my hellos, I excused myself to the restroom. Because, you know, pregnant women have to pee every 5 minutes. And when I walked into the bathroom, I found this taped to the bathroom mirror:

And just seeing that note, right there, greeting me, like it was written for me did exactly what it was intended to do. I stood taller and felt confident and gorgeous. And then I remembered I had to pee and it sort of killed the mood, but you get my point?

With each passing year, I find myself getting more selective about how I spend my time and the types of people I allow into my life. I consciously try to fill my life with those people and things that bring out the light inside of me. Being more selective does not limit me. In fact, it has opened up the world. By surrounding myself with light, it helps me be a light for others.

So today, remember:

If you are confident, you are beautiful.

Stand tall, smile,

and show the world what your gorgeous self can do.

If you’re a guy, and this language doesn’t resonate with you, feel free to substitute “beautiful” with “badass” and “gorgeous” with “good-looking”. And here’s the link to Operation Beautiful.

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Filed Under: Popular Posts, Redefining Success

Moving from man-to-(wo)man to zone defense

August 29, 2011 By Angie

I was going to share the news about a month from now, but somewhere in the middle of the night as I was eating a bowl of Apple Jacks and watching a recording of Drop Dead Diva on the DVR, I said, “Oh, what the heck?”

If you’re subscribed to this blog and/or read it regularly, I consider you a friend. So, I want you to know.

Drum roll please………

I have insomnia.

Okay, just kidding. The reason I have insomnia is because I’m pregnant. In fact, I gave you all a hint weeks ago, that night I paraded around town in my cheetah suit. That fruity drink in the photo was a non-alcoholic spritzer the bartender whipped up.

Now, I’ll answer some of your questions:

Yes, it was planned.
Yes, we are stopping at three.
Yes, we are crazy.
No, my husband and I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl. But we’re betting on a boy. And if that’s the case, we’re going to name him Stormtrooper, per Dillon’s request. And See Saw if it’s a girl.
Yes, we will find out the sex.
The due date is February 22, but I’ve learned not to count on that. This Wednesday, I’ll be 15 weeks pregnant. For Lou and the rest of you who don’t speak pregnancy lingo that translates to almost 4 months. And don’t even get me started about whether pregnancy is 9 or 10 months. The correct answer is… long enough.

But even as I make jokes, I don’t take this blessing for granted. I had two miscarriages between Dillon and Blake and some minor complications with each pregnancy. We’re aware of the risks… for one, I’m over 35. But my doctor is very optimistic, and insomnia aside, initial ultrasounds and blood tests look good. I, on the other hand, am beginning to look like I’ve had a few too many beers and chicken wings. In other words, I’m in that awkward stage where people wonder, “Is she or isn’t she?”

Yes, she is.

When I was a young girl, I imagined having three kids. But then I grew up and completely changed my mind about that. My husband and I were married for 5 years before we even thought about having Dillon. And when people asked us then how many kids we wanted, we replied, “We’re going to wait to see if we like this one before making a decision about that.”

Turns out, we like him a whole lot. And his brother’s not so bad, either.

Friends, welcome to the party.

Filed Under: Life with Kids, Popular Posts

Things that make you go hahahahahahaha

August 3, 2011 By Angie

Note the "cheetah suit" in the background

“Mommy, is that your cheetah suit?” Dillon asked when I walked out of my bedroom, dressed and ready to meet some friends downtown. This was my first happy hour in quite some time, and Dillon does not see his Mommy in heels and makeup that often.

But I can assure you, I was NOT wearing a cheetah suit. I was wearing this tipped ruffle dress from Express. I also wore the dress on my wedding anniversary trip to Las Vegas. The dress is fun and a bit sexy, but Dillon’s comment made me wonder if I should grab the plastic pumpkin out of the pantry and go trick or treating a few months early.

His tone was innocent and curious. He has Superman and Scooby Doo costumes hanging in his closet. So there’s, perhaps, a small chance Mommy has a cheetah suit hanging in hers.

But I don’t.

Dillon was standing at the top of the stairs, waiting for answer. But I couldn’t answer, because I was a) speechless and b) doubled over in laughter. Finally, I caught my breath and said, “No, honey. It’s a dress. And it’s leopard print.”

I tried to tell my husband the story, but I could hardly get it out. Driving to my destination, I laughed out loud every time I thought of it.

I don’t laugh out loud very often. When I write “lol,” I’m usually “loti” (laughing on the inside). So when something makes me crack up, like Dillon’s comment did, I savor the moment. Laughing feels really, really good.

Lucky for me, my two-hour visit with girlfriends provided more tears-streaming-down-my-face laughter. And when I got home that night, I caught this scene from The Proposal on TV. Sandra Bullock and Betty White are just too much, and together they are so funny they rob me of my air supply.

The song “Get Low” appeals to the wanna-be hip hop dancer inside of me, but for the record, I never knew those were the lyrics.

What makes you laugh out loud?

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Filed Under: Just for Fun, Popular Posts

Learning to embrace my awesomeness

May 24, 2011 By Angie

by Abigail Green, from Abby off the Record

A quote that has always resonated with me is one by Marianne Williamson that begins:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. [It] is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”

I don’t know about you, but most women I know do not go around proclaiming themselves brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Guys, on the other hand? Well, let’s just say I’ve noticed that the males in my life have no problem asserting their awesomeness. My 4-year-old son regularly tells me, “I’m the fastest runner in the whole world.” And an essay my husband wrote in grade school stating that he is “the smartest and best-looking person in my family” is a source of great amusement (and some embarrassment) to this day.

But if you ask what’s so great about me, a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom, I will struggle to find an answer. Don’t get me wrong: I love what I do, and I am proud of my accomplishments. I know I’m a good writer and a hard worker. It’s just that when it comes to telling OTHER people how great I am, I falter.

When I was developing my new blog, AbbyOfftheRecord.com — to replace the anonymous blog, DiaryofaNewMom.net, I started years ago — I had many discussions with Angie Mizzell, a kindred spirit I met online through our writing. She insisted I needed to “own” my name, my bio, my credentials. After all, I was hoping the new blog would generate writing assignments, students for my online writing class, and help build my publishing platform. Still, I hemmed and hawed.

I don’t know if it’s a Woody Allen, “I don’t want to be a member of any club that would have me,” kind of thing, or what the Australians call “tall poppy syndrome,” which refers to a successful person who is cut down because their achievements set them above their peers. All I know is that announcing my accomplishments to the world makes me uncomfortable. Years ago, the director of a graduate program to which I was applying called over another professor during my interview. “She’s a Phi Beta Kappa grad from Vassar!” he crowed. Instead of feeling proud, I felt like a prize poodle in the Westminster Dog Show.

Part of the issue is that I really don’t think I’m that great. Like a dieter who tells herself she’ll buy a new dress/update her Facebook picture/be worthy as soon as she’s lost those last 10 pounds, I am always telling myself “I’ll feel successful/update my Facebook profile/embrace my awesomeness as soon as I have a new article published/a bigger paycheck/a New York Times bestseller.” Now you know why I change my Facebook status so rarely.

Another undeniable fact is that publicly proclaiming your accomplishments invites criticism. And not just on the internet; in real life, too. I remember one time I was at a party when a friend came up to me all excited because she’d seen my byline in Bride’s magazine. I was so proud. It was one of my first national magazine credits. A guy standing nearby turned to me and sneered, “So what do you REALLY want to do?” As if writing for bridal magazines was akin to a wannabe actress waiting tables.

But you know what? Even though I may not think I’m brilliant and gorgeous, I can maybe — just a little — embrace the fabulous and talented part. I mean, I get paid to write for magazines and businesses, from home, while spending most of my time with my two boys. I teach writers how to get published, sometimes for the first time, and they do – in places like Southern Living and the New York Times, even! That’s pretty fabulous, right?

The rest of the Williamson quote goes like this:

“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do … And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

So I’m going to work on letting my light shine, starting with my new blog. I spent a lot of time on the About Me page. There’s a photo and everything.

What about you? Do you play small? Or do you embrace your awesomeness?