This week on Monday Listicles the wonderful writer behind the Bonny Bard, Mrs. M, challenged us to make a list of “10 Reasons I Am Great.” We have tangoed with this tough-y a couple of times. While we are just fine with self-revelation and self-promotion (we are bloggers after all), we are not particularly comfortable with high-fiving or back-patting ourselves. In the past we have two-stepped around this problem by writing glowing words about each other or by asking our kids what they thought of us.
But this time, we are going to bite the proverbial bullet and play it straight. Or at least straight-ish.
Ten Reasons We Are Great
1. We are sexy beasts.
Ellen: Okay, immediately after agreeing that we were just going to say nice things about ourselves, we both went scrambling for an escape hatch. Unbeknownst to each other, we both turned to our husbands and asked them what they thought was fabulous about us.
Erin: They both (separately) came up with some very nice things to say about us that quickly slid into the land of raunch.
Ellen: We did not share these little gems with each other, so don’t even think for a second we are going to share them with you and the interwebz.
Erin: You’re welcome, Children.
Ellen: Mmmmm, we might have negated any gratitude that may have come our way by calling ourselves “Sexy Beasts.”
2. We have great party tricks.
Erin: We are part of a larger circle of friends who all read. A lot. They all seem kind of impressed that I can remember the authors and titles of books that I have read days, months, and even years later.
Ellen: And I can save your life with the uncanny amount of knowledge I retained from medical school.
Erin: You are always going to win with that one. Whatever. I also make a darn good chocolate chip cookie.
3. We are the Yin and Yang for crazy people.
Erin: I attract them like bees to honey. And I am oblivious to their crazy.
Ellen: And I detect them. And tell her to run.
4. We have other Sixth Sense Superpowers.
Ellen: I constantly catch Erin in the shower with my phone calls. Either she is constantly showering so it increases my odds or it is truly a sixth sense.
Erin: I’m just happy she’s not clairvoyant because if she could see me in the shower, well, that would just be awkward.
5. We are DIY powerhouses.
Erin: To be clear, I am a DIY optimist, which is not exactly the same thing. I have great intentions and vision, but you know what they say about the best intentions. . . The example that proves the rule is the time our friend Mary and I decided to make some t-shirts (20 to be exact) for our great camping adventure. Without calling Ellen.
We actually said, “How hard can it be?” before plunging into our ambitious, yet misguided attempt to iron-on an emblem AND numbers AND THEN tie-dye them. Remember what I said about vision? Anyway, despite spending a lot of time and money, we still ended up short on blue dye and half the numbers peeled off. We also spent a lot of time saying, “We should have called Ellen.”
Ellen: And I did this. Do not hold the time frame it took to get it done against me.
6. Photography Junkies
Ellen: I can really more accurately be described as a photograph hoarder. I take pictures by the thousands, but I’m not exactly a superstar at sharing them. It has been over a year since I made a photo book, and I can’t remember the last time I printed a picture. I haven’t even put Halloween pictures up on my Facebook account.
Erin: I am actually pretty enthusiastic about the sharing. I make photo books every year — for myself and for gifts, too. I have even coerced my brothers and sister into creating a calendar every year that has become one of the most anticipated parts of our Christmas festivities.
So it pains me, truly, to say that I have lost my camera bag. Am I hyperventilating? I still have my camera — thank-you-for-small-blessings — but the bag is G-O-N-E. Gone. Thank goodness that all of my closest friends have the same camera and I can borrow their chargers from time to time.
Ellen: This disappearance has stressed me out so much that I have searched my garage 3 times out of fear that I somehow snagged it.
7. We’re still talking to each other.
Erin: Running a blog together can be hard. . .
Ellen: And sometimes we felt like the new kids . . .
Erin: But, overall, it has made us stronger . So far, we are still friends, it’s still fun, and, as Ellen likes to say, people should hire us to figure out that mess in the Middle East. Seriously, we have mad skills in diplomacy.
Ellen: So far . . .
8. We rock mealtimes.
Erin: One day many moons ago we all met at Ellen’s house for an Easter Egg hunt and recipe swap. Ellen is the hostess extraordinaire and she knows how to party. She seriously hid over 400 eggs on her three acre lot. The fabulous upside was that it kept the 20 plus kiddos busy long enough to rock my family’s world. Seriously. I took home a folder full of every other family’s go-to recipes, and suddenly we weren’t rotating the same five meals any more.
Our friend Mary kicked it up a notch when she introduced me to the idea of planning our meals ahead of time. When I went back to work part-time this fall, getting dinner on the table was the one ball I had no trouble still keeping up in the air. I already had a system.
Ellen: And if the crockpot is not your friend, make nice now. Nothing is better than walking into the house after a long day to find your meal ready and waiting. It is a life saver on sports practice nights. I can sense some of you muttering, “But crockpot meals are gross.” Well, take notice because I have a Healthy French Country Crockpot Chicken recipe that will make you a believer.
9. We have a true Sisterhood.
Erin: Ellen and I are the bloggers, but the stories, the friendship, and the adventures we write about are shared with a larger network of women. We travel together, share books and recipes and funny stories, raise our kids together, and basically figure it all out together.
Ellen: We said it before, and we really, really mean it. Parenting in isolation is not a good idea. We feel so blessed to have all of the women in our lives who have made this mothering journey easier. They keep us happy, fed, and sane.
Erin: They also keep us honest.
Ellen: And on that note. . .
10. We are not vain.
Thanks, Sisterhood, for making sure we have fodder, photographic and otherwise, for the blog. Together with our kids and our husbands, you are a big part of what makes us great.
Another thing that makes us great is our weekly date with Stasha at Monday Listicles. Her link-up is always a great place to start the week. Check it out!
Not only is your list fun, it’s funny and warm and all kinds of good stuff. Loved it! And I’m so glad you’re still talking to each other!
Terri Sonoda recently posted..Monday Listicles – Ten Reasons I Rock
Yes, talking to each other makes writing together ever so much easier. It’s our secret. Ellen
I just love your blog–honestly, it’s one of my very favorites!! So that’s another reason why you are great (in addition to being sexy beasts, that is)!
The sisterhood is great!!
Marie recently posted..10 talents, or why I’m great (Monday listicles)
But being sexy beasts is the number one reason we’re great, right? Ellen
You really are sexy beasts. You have the stories and photos (obviously) to prove it.
Bridget recently posted..Monday Listicles
You know it! Ellen
Well, I think you ladies are sensational.
Alison recently posted..For The Food Obsessed [GIVEAWAY!]
Thank you! Can’t wait to check out your giveaway! Ellen
I think you both rock big time! I think you might have the funnest blog in the whole sphere. I look forward to visiting y’all!
Wayne recently posted..Monday Quiz
Thank you! What a nice thing to read on a Monday morning! Your dry humor is always a treat. Ellen
What a lovely list! I was a photo hoarder, too – I took many, many photos that just sat there. At least with my blog, now I share some of them.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom recently posted..10 Great Things About Me
Yes! I forgot about sharing pictures on the blog. Vindicated! And I’m about to sit down today and make MY gift photo books. Time for that yearly redemption. Getting off the blog in 3 . . . 2 . . . 2 and 1/2 . . .
Ellen
Fantastic ladies! And good for you for biting the bullet and actually being complimentary of yourselves!! 🙂 You rock!-Ashley
thedoseofreality recently posted..Naptime Should Be Mandatory
We were more or less complimentary, right? Ellen
Ah, I love you guys! Great job, as always. I actually included the photography junkie thing on my list, too, ha! It IS a good quality, right?
Love what you wrote about not parenting in isolation. Cheers to that, and to you both!
Stephanie @ Mommy, for real. recently posted..Monday Listicles: An Exercise in Humility
Wanting to share our Sisterhood and our thoughts that parenting in isolation must be a weird and hard thing to do, were really the seeds that started this blog. Ellen
You all made my Monday – I was mentioned in the blog twice today and a picture!! You guys really are great because you make us in the sisterhood feel so special!!
Awesome, awesome list! You’re so right about the crockpot – I need to get better about using it, I just never think of it until dinner time, which doesn’t do much good. 😉
hollow tree ventures recently posted..8 Major Signs It’s Time To Clean
The two of you are, as always, the coolest “sexy beasts” out there!
BonnyBard recently posted..The – why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut – Monday Listicle
Just as I suspected…you two rock, and are awesome in both sweetness and the funny.
The comment about not “parenting in isolation” ..I may have executed a little bow in your honour at that one. True wisdom.
Rorybore recently posted..4M: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like…
I LOVE it!
And yes you are sexy beasts! 🙂
Marvi Marti recently posted..Monday Listicles ~ 10 Reasons I Am Great!
Your #4 and #7 were really great! Every superhero needs a sidekick (the question is: Who is Robin?) 😉
Anja recently posted..November Round-Up Post
You guys are pretty awesome and always make me laugh. But #3 was my absolute favorite! We all need a little crazy, then we all need someone to tell us to run. And the crockpot is indeed my friend. Whenever someone asks me how I survive the fall with football without eating out every night, my answer is always the same. Crockpot!! Great post as always!
Stacey recently posted..10 reasons why I am great
I seem to be fly paper for freaks as well. Unfortunately I do not have a deflector. All of my close friends sit around and laugh at my expense or commiserate at the similarities to the people that walk in and out of their lives. I’m sure there is something important in that statement…just not so sure I want to examine it any further.
FABULOUS list but then I did expect anything less.
Ducky recently posted..I Can’t Wait To Be King!
Coming by from Stasha’s place. This list is so much fun. I love taking pictures and I do upload them and edit them and make them fun. I love painting things, namely Christmas ornaments and the like. I love cooking with my kids, especially during the holidays. So nice to meet you both for the first time I will be back.
Southern Angel recently posted..Monday Listicles.. I really am that awesome..
Coming by from Listicles…I liked your list – on my site, I kind of copped out and wrote about why my son is so wonderful…that was fun too though!
Lori recently posted..10 Reasons Why My 4 Year Old is the Greatest
Good list, ladies! I wish I were good at the whole DIY thing. Another skill I failed to inherit from my mother.
Cynthia Meents recently posted..10 Examples of My Greatness
Love this list so much!! #10 is so awesome. You guys are hilarious.
Stacie @ Snaps and Bits recently posted..10 Great Things (About Yesterday In NYC)
The crazy yin and yang has me giggling because I NEED A CRAZY, I SPOT CRAZY, COUNTERPART.
Arnebya recently posted..I Ain’t Mad
I still can’t believe that you two have only be at this blog thing for almost a year! Pros I say. You guys rock!
Jackie recently posted..Why love me?
You’re also just all around awesome. I love you two!
I just realized that I’m an Erin and my wife’s an Ellen. Now I feel even better about being such a fan of this blog and you two…especially Erin (*fistbump*)
Lance recently posted..100 Word Song – Criminal
Hey, Lance, that’s awesome! I have said on more than one occasion that Ellen and my husband Steve sound remarkably similar in my head. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. ; ) Erin
Great list! Its funny and thoughtful all at the same time. You guys are amazing!
Audrey recently posted..Nintendo 3DS Games Giveaway
Those freezer meals from once a month cooking are fantastic, aren’t they? As always, I enjoyed the post.
christine recently posted..Happy New Year!
Love this list ladies. I am a photo hoarder just like Ellen. 🙂
Stasha recently posted..Monday Listicles
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