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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Adoption Wednesday: Lemn Sissay: A Child of the state

Hi all,

I know it's been a LONG time but a friend shared this Ted Talk with me and I had to share on this Adoption Wednesday.

I never thought about all the famous figures we have watched and read for many many years who were either adopted, looked after or fostered by people.

"Literature has long been fascinated with fostered, adopted and orphaned children, from Moses to Cinderella to Oliver Twist to Harry Potter. So why do many parentless children feel compelled to hide their pasts? Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay tells his own moving story. This was filmed at TEDxHousesofParliament.


Monday, July 7, 2014

What's In Your Wallet?




After a WONDERFUL walk down the Coney Island boardwalk with my husband, son and Godmother I reached in my pocketbook to pull out my wallet and lo and behold it wasn't there. Now folks we are talking about the crowded Coney Island boardwalk on a Sunday of a holiday weekend. I knew for sure that someone had pick pocked me! But how? My pocketbook was strapped over my shoulder and in front of me the entire time.

As I'm totally freaking out, my husband, the cool cucumber kept saying are you sure you even had your wallet? It was a big chance that it either fell out of my purse in the car or that is was sitting at home nice and safe in the purse I wore earlier in the day. I was on pens and needles the entire ride home (it wasn't in the car) thinking about all the things I had in my wallet that would need to be canceled and replaced.

I thought about identity thief's having a field day with my SS number, because my card was in my wallet. I thought about the piece of paper with the SS# of each of my family member's (why do I have that in my wallet?), my license, bank cards, credit cards etc... I was dreading the possibility that all was lost! Thankfully after the longest ride home in the history of rides home, my wallet was tucked safely in the purse from earlier in the day (Thank You Lord)! This got me to think about all the items in my wallet that shouldn't be in there. So I took a quick look on the internets to see what I should and shouldn't keep in my wallet. Here is the best list I could find, so I'm sharing with you!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Reach For the Stars

Hey Y'all,

My children received Sonic Colors for their Wii this Christmas and they have been playing it non  stop. The theme song to this game is super catchy and very positive take a listen:



The lyrics to this song are inspirational and something that I don't mind my children listening to and even singing themselves. I know that there are negative reports about video games etc. but there is always something to learn from every single medium. While in the kitchen cooking the boys were playing the game, the theme song came on and my oldest son gave my youngest son a full science lesson about the planets. I was totally shocked by how much he knew and how easy it was for him to explain the reason for the change of seasons to his brother.

This song is currently on repeat in my brain and this part of the lyrics specifically -
Wake up, living day by day.
Do what I want, and I'll do it my way
The world is flying right below my feet
Got no regrets inside of me.
Not looking back (Not looking back)
Not giving up (Not giving up)
Not letting go
I'll keep on running!
I'm gonna reach for the stars
Although they look pretty far
I'm gonna find my own way
And take a chance on today
Pretty cool song with a lesson for kids to learn. Never give up. Keep pushing for your dreams and don't settle for less. You can find inspiration in anything and this week for me it's been the Sonic Colors theme song.

Until next time...
MUAH!
 

Monday, February 3, 2014

Everything is AWESOME!

Hey Y'all,

My self induced hiatus is over!! I'm back and so ready to share.

It has been snowing here in NYC on and off for the past month. 2014 has had a weather system like never before, from the super duper cold to the crazy snow it's been quite interesting.

But ...
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!

This past weekend the family and I attended a NYC screening of The Lego Movie hosted by MommyNoire.com the film was absolutely a must see. We all left the theater singing this song, over and over again.


The Lego Movie story line was excellent, casting was perfect and the 2D wasn't hard on the eyes (sometimes I walk out of those movies with a major headache). The folks at Warner Brothers did a fabulous job not only getting the kids involved but many of the jokes were amazing for the adults that were in the audience.

My favorite character was Lord Business played by Will Ferrell. Lord Business was also known as President Business. He was the evil businessman and tyrant who wanted everything to remain the same in Lego Universe.  I won't giveaway much information but I will say that it was a great movie and a ton of fun for the little Brown's. When you have a free moment please check out the trailer.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Happy 39th Birthday To Me!!!! -- My 30's

Hey Y'all,

I love birthday's especially mine!!!!

On November 2nd I welcomed the last year of my 30's. This decade of my life has been utterly amazing. At 30 I become a whole new person, my name was changed and my heart grew by leaps and bounds. At 30 I became a mommy the most awe inspiring role any woman can ever hold. At 35 my life became even sweeter when I welcomed my special babies into the world. Shock and awe at the fact that I could produce twins is an understatement. To this day I still look at them in amazement. My children have helped me craft a life of purpose. They have allowed me too see the best and worst of who I am as a woman, wife, daughter and Friend. In 2008 I left a job that I thought I would have for years to come. But staying stagnant is not the way of the 21st century. I endeavored to be a champion and started a new career path that I wasn't sure I was cut out to do; but alas God had an awesome plan. It was at this new job that I made post college life long friends. It is at this job that I added a new title to my name. I became a blogger. My love for writing was rekindled and an opportunity to be an influencer in my community was born. In my 30s I was treated  to first class celebrity filled trips that I didnt pay a dime for. At 37 the unthinkable happened I was laid off of my job. I was shocked, sad and confused but something positive can often result from a negative situation. While out of work I learned, patience. Something that only come with time and experience.

I had the opportunity to spend quantity time with my babies which is something I never had the chance to do. And through this experience I learned how to be patient. Patient with myself the children and the process of finding a new job. It was not easy and many things Reade stopped from us including our home. It was through that process however that the bond between my children and I became stronger than super glue. I discovered how smart and unique each of them are. Today I can honestly say I would take nothing in place of my journey. While unemployed I started a crochet business! I named it after my beautiful daughter and have been experiencing an wonderful amount of success. In my 30s I learned to love everything about me. My highs my lows and everything in between that makes me an awesome Me. In my 30s I feel in love with my husband all over again. I feel in love with his zeal for life, desire to succeed and his adaptation to the ever changing facets of fatherhood. In my 30s my love for God and his word have developed ten fold. I hunger and thirst after righteousness like never before. I attribute my spiritual growth to the Bible lead and spirit filled teachings of my bishop and Pastor, who were also added to my life in my 30s.
This final year in this decade is shaping up to be one for the record books. In the past three months I have traveled to four different states three of which I haven't been to since I was in my 20/early teens and one I've never been to. I'm super excited about the coming year and continuing to leave my mark on this world. It is My desire to leave this earth empty. As my bishop says. I want to use every gift God has given me. I refuse to hold onto anything that I'm supposed to pour out into this earth.

Until next time...
MUAH

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Werther's Original® Baking Bash MommyParties

Hey y'all,

A few months ago I was picked to host a Werther's Original® Baking Bash MommyParty!!!! I was super excited especially when I received my box of yummy Werther's Caramel in the mail! My mother in law was watching them like a hawk because she didn't know what I was planning to do with them. I allowed her to sample a few of the smooth caramels and she was hooked.

This past weekend the kids and I had a sugary bash on our play date. We made the most delicious caremel apples and fun filled caramel topped sundaes.

Here are a few pictures from our play date!








The caramels are great and will be included in a few snacks during this holiday season. I wasn't paid for this program but I'm so glad that I was able to contribute. It was a fun play date and we'll do it again. Please check out their site and enjoy the yummy recipes they share. http://werthers.werthersecloud.us.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Say, NO MORE! to Domestic Violence

Hey y'all,

October is full of awareness! Yesterday I posted about Breast Cancer and today I post about Domestic Violence Awareness!


Did you know...
One in three women (30%) report being a victim of domestic violence; one in five women (20%) report being a victim of sexual assault.

60% of Americans, 15 years of age or older, know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault. Among the 70% of women who have experienced domestic violence and told someone about it, more than half (58%) said that no one helped them.

Three out of four (73%) parents with children under the age of 18 said that they have not had a conversation about violence in the home.

Three quarters of Americans (75%) say they would step in and help if they saw even a stranger being abused, but almost two thirds (64%) of Americans age 15 or older say if we talk more about domestic violence and sexual assault, it would make it easier to help someone.

The Avon Foundation for Women commissioned and funded the NO MORE Study, conducted by GfK Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, to research domestic violence and sexual abuse among teens, ages 15-17,and adults 18 and older, in an effort to further support the Foundation’s mission of educating people to reduce sexual assault and domestic violence. Click here to download a PDF of the full study.

NO MORE is a new unifying symbol designed to galvanize greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault.  Supported by major organizations working to address these urgent issues, NO MORE is gaining support with Americans nationwide, sparking new conversations about these problems and moving this cause higher on the public agenda. I fully support this campaign and hope that you would as well. Please learn more here.

Until next time...
MUAH