Shhhh, listen…. Do you hear that? It’s silence. It’s me in my house, living it up, by myself, lavishing in the moment. I am actually working without interruption because the kids are all back in school and I don’t have to worry about keeping them entertained day in and day out. Instead, I am having conference calls at my desk rather than in a closet somewhere squinting to take notes in the dark. This summer, I found myself hiding in the most unusual places during conference calls because at any moment, one of those kids would run into my office causing...
Social Online Gaming & Tweens- Good or Bad Idea?
Ah the joys of raising today’s modern day kids. Every time I turn around, there is a kid on a gadget, another one in front of the TV, and the third one on a computer. This morning, I had enough. My six-year old was in his room crying because the TV to the Wii wouldn’t turn on. His day was ruined, over, he was miserable, and it was only 9:15 a.m. Well I’ve had enough! Today is promising to be a beautiful, sunny day. But do you think my kids have any interest in playing outside? No. Playing outside...
Back To School Tips & Tricks-Updated
When did August get here? I can’t believe summer vacation will be over for us in less than a week! These last few days have been busy for me as we just returned from vacation and since then I’ve been school shopping, supply ordering, and getting ready for orientations. Not to mention that I’m back at work too. Good times! For most of us, back to school is bitter sweet. Every August I am counting down the days like it’s Christmas. I wake up with the end in sight, “only five days left until the kids are back in school– yay!” I’m excited because I don’t have to...
Live From New York! It’s #BlogHer12 (& A Family Vacation)
It’s the last day of #BlogHer12 and the entire family came to New York City with me. Yes, you read that right– me, the hubs, and all three kids. And, wait for it… we drove all the way from Florida to New York City. Crazy much? Yes, I know. Three kids and the husband in one car taking a 15 hour road trip requires a lot patience, snacks, entertainment, gas, and glasses of wine each night just to level out my blood pressure. Oh, it’s been an adventure. But really, the stress has all been worth it because we had...
#TmobileSummer: Protect Your Phone & Captured Memories with T-Mobile
We had a great time at the #TmobileSummer #Duval event last week! There was great food, fun games, and of course, great prizes and swag! Look who just happened to be our youngest winner of the night, claiming a brand new Samsung Blaze…. What’s a Mama to do? Well for one thing, he’s not going to get that cell-phone activated for his own use– ha- that’s funny! What I’m thinking of doing, though, is activating it to have handy for when my older son goes out with friends, to a birthday party, or sleepover. It’s just easier if I could text...
My Life Defined By Shoes
I know the expression is usually, “I wear many different hats.” Since I am more of a shoe girl, I like to think more in terms of the different types of shoes I wear throughout the day- and week by week. Each day I’m defined differently by the type of shoe I put on that morning. One type of shoe means I’m in one kind of mode, work mode, play mode, mompreneur mode, you name it. I have my lawyer pumps; not too tall but a nice professional heel that reflects my own personal style. Since I’m not in court,...
Monday Motivation: Power Down & Don’t You Regret It!
It’s Monday morning, and if you are like me, this means you are catching up on tons of email, writing out your weekly plan, goals for the week, and trying to decide what to tackle first. This Monday is especially hectic because last week, I fell sick after taking care of two sick children. Although I am not 100% better, I feel well enough to get in a full day’s worth of work and then some. This morning, only for about half a second, I allowed myself to regret not powering up this weekend. “If only I had written at...
Not Just Growing Pains: Understanding Juvenile Arthritis
July is Juvenile Arthritis month and as a child of someone that has suffered from Rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years, I thought I would share some information about juvenile arthritis. Although my mom was diagnosed with arthritis as an adult, I still worry that maybe the disease will pass on to myself or even worse, one of my children. Children of parents with arthritis have a 10% chance of developing a similar condition. I was maybe six or seven at the time and I didn’t understand why she couldn’t go to the zoo or to amusement parks. The walking was just too much for her. She’s now in her...
Fourth of July Menu Planning With A Delicious Twist
Who is ready for a Fourth of July cook-out? This Fourth promises to be HOT! Southern and central states are blazing hot already, and only the far western states are enjoying cooler temps. But regardless of where you live, most likely you’ll head to the beach, swimming pool, or the backyard to celebrate Independence Day and you’ll be doing so in the company of friends. While the traditional Fourth of July feast of hamburgers, BBQ, hotdogs, etc, is always good, why not include a few delicious twists to your menu? You know, surprise people with the unexpected? To help you with the wow factor, I’ve put together a collection of some fun and easy menu options...
How To Be Productive: Lessons From This Busy Mama
I admit to juggling a full plate. In fact, I probably have enough plates for two or three people. The “how do you do it” question is asked often by even my most accomplished friends, neighbors, and colleagues. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question, well, let’s just say I would probably be able to afford a full-time assistant to help me do it all. But for now, it’s just me and my crazy to-do list(s). I have multiple to-do lists. Most of them are in my head, some are on my iPhone app, others...