This takes the cake!

December is an exciting month for Little Man. Birthday AND Christmas. Mommy is in the mad midst of birthday party planning for the big event December 11. Since his literal birth day was so traumatic (as I write about in the chapter December 11 in A Journey to the Son, www.ajourneytotheson.com) I try extra hard to drive the ol' demons away and make that date just about FUN times now! And, we have had some very fun bdays (I must say I love a party). He has said for months that he wants a "fireman" birthday party, so that is what the prince is getting! Not being a huge baker, I usually buy a cake from Publix, our grocery's deli that makes awesome cakes. But this year I checked it out and they did not have any fireman/truck cakes that seemed very exciting. Sooo, I am going to be brave this year and make it myself.
Online I found a super cool firetruck cake with oreo cookies for wheels and gum drops for the lights. I am very excited (i.e terrified) to attempt this confectionary craft, but I am going to do it anyway. And how cool is it you can find a video online with step by step instructions! Will keep you posted on whether this is a smokin' success or if I get too burnt out and just order cupcakes instead!http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-10462237.html

I'm not really a psycho-mom ...

I just play one on television! I recently compliled an actors "demo reel" for my agent. It is a composite of a lot of projects I have been involved in and I thought I would share it here for fun. I wanted to put dramatic stuff up front, but the first two characters may not be getting any mother-of-the-year awards!! Do ya think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J62ClqcdrM

The old days ...

Little Man has started referring to the dark ages of the 1970's (and then 80's) when Mommy and Daddy were growing up as "the old days". The line of questioning got amusing. Did you have a car in the old days?", "You have a house in the old days?" Yes, hunnie, we had those things. But ... NO DVDS and NO COMPUTERS! How did we ever survive???

Happy Thanksgiving!

Watching the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade with a self-proclaimed "very excited" four year old. Jammie-clad, we practiced our kicks with the Radio City Rockettes and marched around the living room to the marching bands. And, Billy Currington just came by on a float singing a song Grandbobby co-wrote, People Are Crazy, what a fun surprise! We usually do a big company deal at our house but we aren't this year because Aunt Karen and Uncle Ronnie have to be out of town and our house is in disarray because we are getting it ready to put on the market. We just had an inspection on a new (old) house yesterday and are seeing if that all goes through. Jim is cooking a Trader Joe's free range turkey for him, Little Man and Grandbobby and I am doing "Tofurkey" for me. Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving to me without a Southern fave my Nana used to make every year, Squash Casserole. Nothing fancy, just delicious. So I made my modified version of that last night (Smart Balance instead of "Oleo" etc). Another Southern treat tradition here, "Tipsy sweet potatoes" with Jack Daniels. (My nana would NOT have made these!)
I love the holidays and am embracing all that there is to be thankful for today.
The best was little man saying multiple times this week "I thankful for YOU, mommy!" accompanied by a big hug and smile.
I am so thankful for that miracle boy, for Jim, my Daddy, wonderful friends and family, this house that has been great for us for eight years and the potential of a new one, good health, kitty cats, and the ability to pursue the arts which I love.
And I am thankful for all of my blogger friends and followers and wish you and yours a beautiful day!

Rockin' review

Hey guys, here are reviews I just got on the rockin' moms site, one for A Journey to the Son book and one for A Journey to the Son CD.(Both of which are available at www.ajourneytotheson.com). Hope you all have a rockin' holiday!

Rockin' Moms Book Reviews A Journey to the Son
by Lauren Braddock Havey

Book
Review:


Lauren Braddock Havey’s “Journey to the Son” is the true-life tale of her journey to motherhood. It is unlike any book I have read on the subject. It was delightful, heart-breaking, funny and spiritual all at once.

It reads like “the bad news is…but the good news is…but the bad news is…but the good news is…” and so on and so forth. Abandoned by her mother, loved by her husband, unable to conceive, an IVF success story, a bumpy pregnancy and a miracle birth—it’s quite a ride. Written with great honesty and humor, you can’t help but root for her in her good times and bad.

My favorite chapter was “Angels in the Room”. I like the author have lots of questions about spirituality and the afterworld. Prone to “believe” in ghosts, I loved reading every word of this chapter. Havey’s take on faith, religion, the super natural and miracles is masterful—her writing magical.

I read this book in one sitting—unable to put it down. It’s an optimistic tribute to the power of motherhood.-


Reviewed by: Judy Davids


Author of Rock Star Mommy: My Life as a Rocker Mom is on sale wherever books are sold. Now available on Kindle!
www.mydols.com | www.judydavids.com | www.pinkbootwebdesign.com


CD Reviews
Artist Name: Lauren Braddock Havey
Album Title: A Journey to the Son

Home State: TN
Website: A Journey to the Son


Reviewed by Deborah Crooks
>twitter.com/deborahcrooks


CD Review:

Given her Nashville roots and songwriting lineage (she’s the daughter of acclaimed country songwriter Bobby Braddock), it was a given that Lauren Braddock Havey would find plenty of material as she and her husband underwent in vitro fertilization treatments to conceive a son. Not only did the process allow the couple to birth a child, the experience inspired Lauren to author a book-length memoir and a full-length CD that share the title A Journey to the Son. Billed as a “folk-rock opera, each song on the Cd has a companion chapter in Lauren’s memoir (Two Harbors Press; ISBN 978-1-935097-71-6; October 2009). Granted with titles such as “Waiting Womb” “Breast Intentions” and “Grounded and Stones” (The Gallstone & Bedrest Song), the average listener might be put off by the graphic honesty and physicality of the lyrics, the songs offer great information to those looking at fertility treatment options.

In vitro fertilization isn’t for the faint of heart and Lauren is unflinching while depicting the hopes, fears and literal trials that accompany the process she underwent on her journey toward parenthood. But the songs serve as a testament to possibility and hope and any expecting parent could probably relate. Despite telling tails of discomfort, the songs are buoyed by Lauren’s bright voice that is strong throughout the disc. She doesn't wallow and is especially effective on the song “Breast Intentions” where she sings in a voice reminiscent of Sheryl Crow. Produced by Don Henry, arrangements vary from acoustic lullabies to rock; others such as “Grounded and Stone” are highlighted by slide guitar while “December 11” carries a rock edge. —

Been a long time ...

Sorry I have been slacking on my posting. Trying to decide my next steps for book/CD promotion. Travelling for book signings gets expensive so I may hold out on those for a little while, but hope to do a couple of house concerts soon! I am the featured artist/author interview on Rockin' Moms this month if y'all want to check that out https://www.rockinmoms.com/index.phpist, and also got a nice feature in this months Shady Grove Fertility Center's newsletter http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/newsletter/successful-journey-son.
Besides for that, we are putting a bid in on a new home (yikes!) and planning a five-year-old fireman birthday party!
Love, love love and will post again soon!

Day(time) Tripper, A Tampa tribute

I am back from my jaunt to Tampa where I appeared on the syndicated morning TV show, "Daytime!". I was a big girl and boarded the plane on my own leaving the guys for, egads, 28 hours. It was fun! I read magazines. I jotted down blog ideas. I shuttled from the airport to the The Sheraton Riverwalk hotel. I got the whole deal, plane tix and the room, for 300 bucks via Southwest travel specials online. The hotel was nice. I enjoyed using their workout room and computer center. The bed was cushy plush and I could see the studio where I had to be at the next morning, across the river from my hotel room balcony. That was good for a little peace o' mind; I could swim there if I had to!

I was on the sandy soil of my ancestors (The Braddocks, I am told, were among the first hundred non-Spanish white settlers in Florida). My cousin Carol and her husband Larry live about 45 minutes away, in the same town where my dad grew up, and were kind enough to come meet me. We went to the famed Columbia restaurant in Tampa's old Latin-quarter, Ybor city, The Columbia is famous for Old-World Spanish and New-World Cuban cuisine, and has been there since 1905. Our grandparents actually courted there in the late 1920's and early 1930's- yikes! I had an amazing seafood paella and just one little sangria (yum) and plantains.

We stayed for the flamenco dancer show and had a really nice time.
I went back to the hotel to get to bed early for the show. No insomnia haunted me, thank goodness. After a little room service breakfast I went to the studio and hung out in the green room where the super sweet producer, Maureen, came and met me and explained that it was a 4 1/2 minute interview (live to tape)which would go fast. She told me she really enjoyed the book and I was impressed that she had read it.
I hung out in the greenroom to wait until it was my time to go on. I met the hostess, Cyndi, who would be interviewing me. She was funny, telling me she was liking my book, but that it made her want to keep her legs crossed! (She later repeated that line on camera) For our actual interview, she asked a couple of unexpected questions. She asked me right away about my mother (who I haven't seen since I was 14) and questioned whose issue our infertility was. Wha' is she, Barbara Walters?!
She asked probing questions which I am sure makes for more interesting TV and hopefully I rolled with it ok. I felt like we had a nice rapport and I felt relaxed, so that was all good. And then ... it was over!
It was a fun little adventure, but it is also nice to be home and hear the sweet words "I missed you mommy!"