Who is MEP?

Hi, I'm MEP. Not to brag . . . is my blog, and I am so glad you've stopped by. I started this blog in July of 2007 when my oldest son was around 18 months old and I still had three chapters of a dissertation left to write. I wasn't sure I'd ever finish writing and graduate so I started blogging in part because I yearned to finish writing something. Crafting a short(ish) blog post was the perfect way to get a nice feeling of completion and satisfaction without having to do much research or include end notes. The fact that people started reading the blog and leaving comments made the experience even sweeter. Blogging has made me feel more connected to friends, family, and strangers than I ever imagined. Almost three years later, I love having this outlet to share what I'm thinking, feeling, reading, eating, and trying to do with my life.

I live in Chicago (near Wrigley Field) with Hubby and our two sons Bub (4 years) and Little Bit (19 months). We are so excited to welcome our daughter Sweet P in April. Check out some family pictures below.

We looked this perfect, NTB, and matchy-matchy for about five minutes this past August.

Ah, that's more like us. NTB.

I'm a SAHM right now. I taught a few classes last semester and see more part-time teaching in my future. For now though, my boys keep me busy but still allow me to nurture my passions, such as reading and eating. I also enjoy watching television. I don't get out nearly enough, but I do love hanging out with friends whenever I can. One day I plan to start working out.

I'm a Midwestern girl through and through, and my favorite states are (in order): Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.

What else? I'm the oldest of five kids. I can appreciate a clean house, but have to fight my own slobbish tendencies to keep ours looking just okay on a daily basis. I am simultaneously intrigued and repelled by baby monkeys (the small kind the wrap around human fingers). I love Diet Coke. I don't blog about politics. I go to bed later than I should. Running shoes are my footwear of choice (but I do not run). I am very skilled at programming our DVR.

I try not to take myself too seriously. Some days I succeed.

You'll see the abbreviation NTB throughout some of my posts.
NTB = Not to brag . . .
I consider NTB a frame of mind, a lifestyle even. You can use it in a sarcastic tone, as in, "I gained a record 12 pounds at my last ob gyn visit, NTB." Or, you can use it just to keep things a little more real if you're going to brag on your kids and whatnot, as in, "My two year old can read me the newspaper in Spanish and wipe his own butt, NTB." NTB helps you keep it real.

I like to imagine that NTB is about trying to negotiate life's ups and downs with humor and a semblance of grace, reasonableness, and positivity.

I think that's enough about me and this blog. Please visit again because I'm really, really glad you're here. Like all bloggers, I love, love, love comments, but I'd rather have you stop by and not comment than stop stopping by because you feel guilty not commenting . . . if that makes sense.

Anyway, enjoy!

Peace out,
MEP

P.S. -- My sisters LAP and PITA are infrequent but valued contributors here at NTB as well. They are both way better writers than they think they are and in real life they are both way funnier than I am.