As much as I love to be a working mom, it comes with challenges. Some that make you feel like you’re not giving your full attention to your children and family. It can be especially hard when many of the moms at your kids’ school are stay-at-home moms. Today I had one of those days. I was having a great day at the office until I received an email from my son’s teacher. She had sent a sign-up sheet via email for party items for the upcoming Valentine’s Day party. The item I signed up for was taken by several people...
From Child in Haiti to Blogger For Haiti
It’s been five years. Five years since we got the call that an earthquake had ripped through Port-au-Prince where nearly all of my dad’s side of the family was living. I stayed up until 5 am that morning waiting to find out if my family was okay. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind. My grandmother was first. She was too old to survive an earthquake. Then I thought of the rest of my family, were they home or at work when it happened? The images of Port-au-Prince on the news were scary. It didn’t look like many could have survived. It...
Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Maple Glazed Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing
Although we usually gather at my in-laws for Christmas and Thanksgiving, I still like to make a big meal so that we can enjoy holiday leftovers. On our table, you’ll find a Maple Glazed Bacon Wrapped Turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, cornbread stuffing, and a variety of other sides. The turkey recipe is fool-proof, really. The butter and bacon combo make the turkey really tender and juicy. Plus, everything tastes better with bacon. The recipe starts with brining your turkey for at least 24 hours. I used Bell’s Turkey brine that has great seasoning such as sage, salt, dried apples, rosemary,...
The Art of Writing a Thank You Card or Note
On my list for 2015 resolutions is to send more thank you cards or notes. I would add in a “timely manner” or “more often” but the truth is, I think the last time I sent a thank you card was after one of my baby showers, a decade or so ago… Shameful, I know. It’s not that I don’t know how to write a thank you card. It’s just that I never get around to it. In fact, I went to find cards for my daughter to use only to realize, I have four cards left. At one time, I...
Keeping Kids Active In Winter- Eight FUN Ideas!
Snow days, freezing weather, and school cancellations means many winter days inside for children. Parents may be wondering how to give children the activity they need despite extreme temperatures and a long holiday break. Not only are the kids cooped up but so are you. When children don’t get enough activity behavior problems may begin. Emotions may run high and before you know it, the sibling bickering may seem like an all day sporting event. When kids gets enough activity not only are they in a better mood but they are more likely to sleep better at night and interact...
Celebrating a Blue Christmas
We’ll be celebrating a blue Christmas but ours is nothing but sad or lonely. I love hosting friends for holiday cocktails, this year we have three parties to plan. And I love making a big Christmas Eve dinner and listening to Christmas music while I cook and get the house ready. A beautiful home for Christmas is something I always dreamed of as a child. I remember driving through neighborhoods with my parents and seeing beautiful homes with lights and wreaths hanging on doors and windows. We would go to holiday parties where the adults danced and the kids chased each other...
Preparing Your Child For First Pair of Glasses
Are you getting your child ready for his or her first pair of glasses? How do you know if your child needs glasses? I started wearing glasses in second grade. I’ll never forget my first pair, red glasses with Strawberry Shortcake on the sides. I loved them. Fast-forward 30+ years later, I have two children in glasses. My daughter’s first pair were pink with hearts along the sides. Initially she was upset when she found out she needed glasses. And when my seven year-old son came home from school one afternoon with a list of spelling words he copied from...
30 Business Tips for Women in Their 30s
Starting your own business isn’t easy, especially as a women. Doing this more than once is even harder. With each start-up there’s risk. Will your business do well? What will it cost you? What if your new business fails, what will friends and colleagues think then? I’m not sure where my entrepreneurial spirit came from but since 2009 the bug got me, and I keep going. Honestly, I never thought it would give me the opportunities I’ve had so far. I’ve had dreams and hopes and one days but to see them actually pan out is pretty amazing. In April...
Hair Tutorial for Curly Girls!
Curly hair runs deep in my family. All curls, all patterns. My hair is different than my daughter’s so I’ve been trying to learn how her hair works. If you have a girl with curly hair then you know it’s a fun and adventurous ride! Taking care of curly hair takes time. And patience. With back to school in full swing, I have to make sure that we’re ready to go in the mornings and that includes having my girl’s hair done the night before. Why? Well with three kids, mornings in my house are hectic! We’re fixing lunches, grabbing...
YMCA Teams Up With Wal-Mart to Feed Children This Summer
Hot dogs on the grill, watermelon, grapes, hamburgers and potato salad – these are all staples of delicious summer meals.* While most of us have more than we could ever eat (and a fridge full of leftovers), more than 16 million children live in homes that struggle to put full meals on the table. More than 30 million children take advantage of the National School Lunch Program, which provides free or reduced-cost meals to children in schools across the country. Additionally, at least 10 percent of teachers say they buy food weekly for hungry students. When school is out for...