When you are a busy mom sometimes, keeping up with the latest fashion or makeup trends and hair styles seems impossible or it may be the last thing on your to-do list. As a full-time working my mom myself, I totally get it. But honestly, looking good doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. The heart of style is in what makes you feel good inside and out, not trying to mimic or hold up to those looks we see on the runway. And looking good can take just as long as looking not so good. It takes the same amount...
How to Start the Atkins Diet Step-by-Step
I’m on a journey to be healthier, lose a little weight, and lean up. I am pretty good at working out at least three times a week but as I get older it’s hard to lose or even maintain my weight. Although I do want to shed some weight, what I really want to do is get some muscle definition. Just a little. I shared my frustration with my personal trainer a few months ago and he confirmed what I suspected. It was my diet holding me back. He explained how much my diet impacts whether I lean up, lose weight,...
4 Things You Need to Know in Establishing Credit As an Entrepreneur
Are you an entrepreneur planning to launch a business? There’s a couple of things you’ll want to consider in establishing your company’s business credit. The amount of debt you owe impacts a lot of decisions you’ll make as a start-up like whether to get an office, hire someone long term, or even whether you can qualify for business loans. And since cash flow and planning for growth is like a magic formula you’re always trying to figure out you may need to have some business credit to keep things moving efficiently. Thankfully, I still had a full-time job when I launched the Niche Parent. It...
10 Things My Student Loans Could Have Bought Me
Like most college students I borrowed money to pay for undergrad and law school. The average student loan debt in 2013 was approximately $35,000 for college grads. Mine was slightly double that. I have been out of graduate school now for 12 years and each month I’m sending multiple checks to pay off my student loans. As thankful as I am for my education, I can’t help but wonder what I could have done differently to pay for school. The out-of-state tuition was no help at all. I paid more than three times the amount of school than my...
Sunday Brunch Idea: Veggie & Sausage Egg Muffins
Here’s an easy Sunday Brunch idea for you – sausage and vegetable egg muffins. This recipe is easy and you can be flexible with the ingredients. I like to load my muffins with veggies since I eat low carbs and always have plenty in my fridge. But you can add or takeaway to please your crowd. You can prepare everything the day before if you like which makes it great for busy morning or if you’re expecting guests for brunch. I sometimes make these for weekday mornings since they are just as good reheated in the microwave. Perfect for a...
Heart For Haiti: Finding Positivity in Hardships
February is a month to celebrate love.* You’re given a chance to pause and remember your loved ones new and old. Others may remember places they have visited or non-profits and organizations they may be passionate about supporting. This February, Macy’s Heart of Haiti wants us to consider the island of Haiti as a place to send our thoughts of love. Most often news about Haiti focuses on the negative aspects of the island, however, positivity still comes from Haiti despite the hardships Haitians have faced. What is rarely highlighted is all the beautiful talent that comes from Haiti. The musicians, the athletes, and the...
8 Tips For Planning Your Vacation When You’re Self-Employed
So you’ve realized that you’re overworked and need a vacation. As a small business owner and self-employed mom I know how hard it is to schedule time off for vacation. If you’re a sole proprietor without employees, it gets even harder. You don’t have someone else to answer the calls or delegate your work. So how can you plan for a vacation? It’s possible using these tips. 8 Tips for Scheduling Time Off When You’re a Small Business Owner Schedule your time off during your low season. Most every profession has a low season. Figure out when yours is and then...
15 Signs You May be Working Too Much
Americans are overworked. We’ve heard the statistics many times. We work too hard, too much, and we don’t unplug from our devices. Every study on mental health will tell you that working too much or non-stop is not good for your health. It causes you to be depressed, overweight, and can lead to heart disease or heart attack. If you find yourself working all weekend, all week, and all night you are clearly overworked and something has to change. Last week I hit that point where I knew I needed to slow down. I went to the spa on...
A Family Cultural Immersion Experience: Going to Mexico for More Than Just A Tan
What better way to truly expose your children to another culture and language than to travel abroad? Cultural immersion experiences are priceless and offer families many, lifelong memories. We had our own experience in Mexico a few years ago, however, today I’m sharing the story of a father whose family’s trip to the Yucatan yielded them much more than a tan. Enjoy, this story is beautiful. Five years of foreign language in high school prepared me for our Mexican vacation, but my young sons didn’t know a syllable of Spanish between them. I didn’t want to overwhelm the boys with...
Big Game Menu for Your Super Bowl Fiesta!
I always try to incorporate a little Latin flavor into my menus when I’m entertaining for cocktail parties or a dinner. My friends always look forward to it. This Super Bowl Sunday will be no different. Last year I hosted a small party and we had everything from pork sliders to my homemade chicken and beef Empandas. To help me plan this Sunday’s menu, I interviewed Chef Ema Quevedo for menu planning tips and dish suggestions. I’m excited to share these dishes with you and can’t wait to see which dish you’ll try. Seahawks and Broncos fans may be rooting for different teams but they’ll both...