• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Big Mama

the big mama blog

  • Home
  • Meet Melanie
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Books
    • *New* On The Bright Side
    • *New* Piper and Mabel
    • Church of the Small Things
    • Nobody’s Cuter Than You
    • The Antelope in the Living Room
    • Sparkly Green Earrings
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Melanie Podcast
You are here: Home / Archives for Other

Other

A Guide to San Antonio

Other

I normally don't post much here anymore, but I'm getting so many requests for things to do in San Antonio that I figured it was time to update an old post I'd written about things to do and places to eat. The most common question I get via email or direct message is something along the lines of “My family and I are planning to visit San Antonio. Where should we go? What should we do?” And I Read More

And we are almost to the end of May

Other

It's been a busy week around here because I believe you are probably all aware that it is May. And that means I have given myself a few more days to finish up one last project. Or at least I thought it was one last project until my publisher reminded me I actually have a whole other list of things I need to have finished by mid-June so I'm super excited about that except maybe I'd rather take a Read More

The Big Boo Cast, Episode 75

Other, Podcast

Sophie and I finally found time to record a new podcast and I don't think either of us realized this was Episode 75 which feels like a milestone. Granted, it took us nine years to get here but I'll take my milestones where I can find them. You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog. You can also listen on Stitcher. Or, as always, you can Read More

Fashion Friday: Edition when May is about to kill you, go shopping

Fashion, Other

Dear May, I am over you. With Zero Love, Melanie But at least we have online shopping to help us make it through. First things first, The Ikat Elephant is having a big sale. You can get 25% off your entire purchase with the code SPRINGSAVE25 at checkout. Personally, I've had my eye on this jillian printed maxi dress but there are tons of other cute things so you should go check Read More

I meant to find three more things but I didn’t really want to

Other

This started out to be a list of ten and then I drew a blank as to the other three things I was going to talk about and so now it's a list of seven because, you know, that's a thing. Or at least just pretend it's a thing. A top seven list. 1. the best chocolate cake ever I saw this recipe months ago but wasn't in the mood to make a chocolate cake. This is very different from the fact Read More

And that’s what’s been happening here

Other

We have twelve and a half days of school left until summer. I know this because Caroline got in my car this afternoon, slammed the door shut and said, "I AM SO GLAD I ONLY HAVE TWELVE AND A HALF DAYS OF SCHOOL LEFT!" And I wanted to say, "AMEN TO THAT, SISTER!" because err'ybody be so tired of a routine right now. Then she told me that she went to an informational meeting about running cross Read More

Fashion Friday: Edition happy mother’s day and a giveaway!

Fashion, Other

So I'll start with this because I'm kind of excited about it. I wrote my first original piece for TODAY.com and it went up yesterday. You can read it here. And they tell me that it's good to get votes (Why? I don't know. What does it all mean?) but there's a little thing at the top of the article where you can vote for me so it would be great if you could do that if you feel so inclined. The Read More

The great kitchen remodel

Other

So if you've been following along here for a while, you may remember that we decided to get new kitchen cabinets last fall. Actually our original plan was to give the existing cabinets a facelift, but our friend and cabinetmaker looked at them and told us it might actually make more sense to just rip out the old ones and put in new ones since we plan on being in this house forever. And P jumped Read More

Five quick things

Other

Just some things I want to make sure you know about. And stay tuned because I'm finally going to post pictures of our kitchen remodel tomorrow. I know it's been forever but I was waiting for a time when it was actually clean and, well, that just happened last week. 1. Chin Up, America! tee Sophie and I recorded a podcast right after the election when it felt like everyone was wringing Read More

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 91
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Who is Melanie?

Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

Sign up here!

Which is your pleasure?

Categories

Events Books The Big Boo Cast Diary Fashion Friday

The Latest on Instagram

Had the best time last night speaking at the @fede Had the best time last night speaking at the @federationtexasaggiemoms dinner. So grateful for all they do for Texas A&M students. ⁣
⁣
There’s not much better than being in a room full of Aggies. Thanks and Gig’em. 👍🏻❤️
2022 was a year of seeing so much of God’s goodn 2022 was a year of seeing so much of God’s goodness. Like most years, there were highs and lows, but also so much joy and laughter with the people I love the most. 💕⁣
⁣
We’re ready for you, 2023! 🎉🥂⁣
⁣
“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.⁣
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord.⁣
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16: 5-8
It’s been a good week of Christmas festivities h It’s been a good week of Christmas festivities here. Family, friends, food and fishing. Basically all of our favorite things. ❤️🎄❤️
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. ❤️🎄❤️
It was an Aggie football season I’ll never forge It was an Aggie football season I’ll never forget for so many reasons…some of them bad, but mostly so much good⁣
⁣
Sometimes it takes a less than stellar season on the field to highlight the things I really love about football season are the people, being with old friends, making new friends, the memories and everything that Texas A&M embodies⁣. There’s a quote Aggies love that says, “From the outside looking in, you don’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.” Texas A&M is a magical place.
⁣
Also, ending the season by beating the hell outta LSU didn’t hurt. Thanks and Gig’em.
Aggie game day with my girl. 💕⁣ ⁣ We strugg Aggie game day with my girl. 💕⁣
⁣
We struggled against a 1-9 UMass team on a 40 degree, rainy day. ⁣
⁣
In the words of Charles Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”⁣
⁣

The Latest on Twitter

Melanie Shankle @bigmama ·

Well, that was anti-climatic.

Reply on Twitter 1612659662435803139 Retweet on Twitter 1612659662435803139 1 Like on Twitter 1612659662435803139 43 Twitter 1612659662435803139
Melanie Shankle @bigmama ·

Wow, Georgia! What a comeback!!

Reply on Twitter 1609414435394965506 Retweet on Twitter 1609414435394965506 Like on Twitter 1609414435394965506 48 Twitter 1609414435394965506

Follow on Twitter

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

Footer

Stay Up to Date

Which is your pleasure?

  • About Me
  • Speaking
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Website by Wordpress Barista

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmartiTunes

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

iTunes

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

lifewayMardelBAM

Select an online retailer below.

Book Retailers
Book RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook Retailers

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmart

Order Yours Today!

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmart

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Book Retailers

Book RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook Retailers

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.