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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Back To School Fashion (CRISIS)

Hey Y'all,

Why oh why can't everybody make their children wear uniforms? I know I wrote about trying to get Erick to wear uniforms to school when it wasn't a rule but now I have three little people to send off to school and I can't figure out what they should wear. I want my little ones to have their own fashion identity and not look like everyone else specially since they aren't wearing uniforms. But if I'm not mistaken I'm sure just about every mom in the northeast will be visiting Children's Place for their back to school fashions! Although I love their jeans I really don't want Leah to end up having the same shirt on that her desk mate is wearing. What pray tell should a budget conscious mama do?

I know what they won't be wearing....



What style will your kiddies sport this year?

Until next time...
MUAH!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Suicide Watch...

Hey Y'all,

While scrolling my Facebook timeline I saw the image of Lee Thompson Young, the former star of late '90s Disney Channel series The Famous Jett Jackson, and current star of one of my favorite TNT shows Rizzoli & Isles, the caption was about his self inflicted gunshot wound. He is dead. 
0819_lee_thompson_young_article_getty_2
Although the following information is dated the numbers are daunting and I know they are higher today.
According to the CDC:


  • Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death for all ages in 2010.
  • There were 38,364 suicides in 2010 in the United 
  • States--an average of 105 each day.
  • Based on data about suicides in 16 National Violent 
  • Death Reporting System states in 2009, 33.3% of suicide decedents tested positive for alcohol, 23% for antidepressants, and 20.8% for opiates, including heroin and prescription pain killers.
  • Suicide results in an estimated $34.6 billion in combined medical and work loss costs.
Warning Signs of Suicide:
  • Talking about wanting to die
  • Looking for a way to kill oneself
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or  having no purpose
  • Talking about feeling trapped or  in unbearable pain
  • Talking about being a burden  to others
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
  • Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Withdrawing or feeling isolated
  • Showing rage or talking about  seeking revenge
  • Displaying extreme mood swings
  • The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide.
What to do if you see these signs:
  • Do not leave the person alone
  • Remove any fi rearms, alcohol,  drugs or sharp objects that could  be used in a suicide attempt
  • Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention  Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Take the person to an emergency  room or seek help from a medical  or mental health professional
My prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of this amazing young man. I pray that if you are feeling like there is no hope and your life isn't worth living, that you would contact someone. Reach out to a family member, friend, clergy, your local hospital or even police station to get the help you need.


Until next time...
MUAH!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

STRANGER DANGER: What would your child do?

Hey Y'all:

We have had the stranger danger talk with our children. Don't go with strangers, don't talk to strangers etc. but if you take a look at this video let me know what you think your children might do when a cute dog and a 'safe' looking man is involved.



Baby my heart was in my mouth after watching this. How do we really teach our children about strangers and who they should and should not trust? Check out Raising America with Kyra Phillips on HLN tomorrow 8/2 at Noon.

How have you handled this discussion with your children? Please leave comments.

Until next time...
MUAH!

5 Must Do's with Your Girlfriends (sister friends, gal pals, bff's etc)

Hey Y'all

Today is National Girlfriend's Day.
Girlfriends or sister friends as I refer to mine; are the women you can always depend on. Whether you call on them to share exciting news, need a shoulder to cry on, someone to pray with, hang out, babysit etc. a true Girlfriend has your back! I recently lost one of my girlfriends and will miss her dearly. Some of the things on this list are activities that we shared and I'll miss doing them with her but will make sure I hang out or catch up with my living girlfriends more often.


5 Must Do's With Your Girlfriends

Watch a chick flick. Send the kids and your honey out for a play date, call up your girls and watch the eight films I've listed below. You know as you watch, laugh and cry they'll hand you tissues.

  1. The Notebook
  2. The Secret Life of Bees
  3. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1&2)
  4. Titanic
  5. Steel Magnolias (the original)
  6. The Women of Brewster Place
  7. Waiting to Exhale 
  8. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Throw a Party. Doesn't have to be a special occasion just a reason to get together. Throw a tea party, dress up and have a blast. Parties are always a good way to get all your friends in one place at one time. 

Go Shopping. Who doesn't love some good retail therapy? I don't know about you but I rearly shop for myself these days. It's either about the kids or the house, never really for me. So going on a little shopping trip with your girlfriends might just get you into Victoria's to pick up a secret. What might be even more fun is doing a clothes,shoe and accessory swap. Clothes Swap is a new trend and all the rage these days. Why not hold a clothes swap with your girls.Clean out your closet and accessory box of items you no longer wear bring them to one location and make the swap. It's fun and a great way to keep money in your pocket.

Take a Road Trip. Doesn't have to be anywhere far but a nice getaway with your friends is always a positive. Now let me caveat this... do NOT go anywhere with your freeloading friend (we all have one) make sure the girls you invite are gainfully employed and won't have any issues with expenses. 

Capture A Memory. If you watch a chick flick together document it, if you throw that party make sure you get a picture with all your girls, going shopping snap a pic and on the road trip make sure you document the adventure! Pictures are truly worth a thousand words so make sure you have a lasting memory. 

Until next time...
MAUH!




Girlfriend's Day and Other Fun, Weird and Interesting August Observances

Hey Y'all:

As you can tell I took the month of July OFF!!! I had so much going on that I didn't make any time to write consistently. Now that things have settled in both my personal and professional life I'M BACK!

What better way to start off August then to share the array of interesting and often bizarre observances for the month. Today August 1st is Girlfriends Day, here is a full list of observances by month, week and day from www.brownielocks.com. Which one(s) will you celebrate/participate in?

August Observances

American Adventures Month
American Artists Appreciation Month
American Indian Heritage Month   (See also November)
American History Essay Contest (8/1 - 12/15)
Black Business Month
Cataract Awareness Month
Celery, Fennel and Cactus Month
Children's Eye Health & Safety Month
Children's Vision & Learning Month
Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
Golf Month
Happiness Happens Month
Motor Sports Awareness Month
National Catfish Month Link
National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month
National Goat Cheese Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Panini Month
National Minority Donor Awareness Month
National Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
National Runaway Prevention Month
National Truancy Prevention Month
National Water Quality Month
National Win With Civility Month
Neurosurgery Outreach Month
Orange and Papaya Month
Psoriasis Awareness Month
What Will Be Your Legacy Month

 August Weekly Observances
*International Clown Week: 1-7
*Simplify Your Life Week: 1-7
*World Breastfeeding Week: 1-7
National Farmers' Market Week: 4-10
Old Fiddler's Week: 4-10
*Rock for Life Week: 4-7
Assistance Dog Week: 4-10  Link (Second Week That Starts on the First Sunday)
Knights of Columbus Family Week: 4-10
National Resurrect Romance Week: 4-10 (2nd  Full Week)
Exercise With Your Child Week: 4-10
National Fraud Awareness Week: 4-10
(This is sponsored by the FCC and has to do with phone & mail fraud.)
Single Working Women's Week: 4-10 Link (Week always has the 4th in it)
Exhibitor Appreciation Week: 5-9
Intimate Apparel Week: 5-9
National Bargain Hunting Week: 5-11  (First Mon.-Sun Week)
Psychic Week: 5-9  (First full week)
Sturgis Rally: 5-11
National Hobo Week: 8-11
Elvis Week: 10-16
Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week: 11-17   (Always 2nd Week)
Weird Contest Week: 11-17 (Second Week)
*National Aviation Week: 15-21  (Always week of Orville Wright's Birthday on  19th)
Little League Baseball World Series: 18-24
Minority Enterprise Development Week: 18-24
*Be Kind To Humankind Week: 25-31
National Safe at Home Week: 26-30 (Last M-F Week)

August Daily Observance 
NOTE:  An * in front of the day means that the observance is on the same date every year regardless of the day it falls on.
*Girlfriend's Day: 1
*Lughnasa - 1
*National Minority Donor Awareness Day: 1
*Respect For Parents: 1
*Rounds Resounding Day: 1
*Spiderman Day: 1
*US Air Force Day: 1
*World Wide Web Day: 1
*World Scout Scarf Day: 1
International Beer Day: 2
*India Pale Ale Beer Day: 2
Satchmo Days: 2-4
Braham Pie Day: 3 (First Friday)
International Tree Climbing Days: 3-7  Link  (First Weekend)
National Mustard Day: 3 (First Saturday)
* Watermelon Day: 3
*Coast Guard Day: 4
*National Chocolate Chip Day: 4
*Single Working Women's Day: 4
*Social Security Day: 4
Friendship Day: 4 (First Sunday)
National Doll Day: 4  (First Sunday)
National Kids' Day: 4 (First Sunday)
Sister's Day: 4 (First Sunday)
Assistance Dog Day: 5   (Monday of Assistance Dog Week)
*International Beer Day: 5
*National Oyster Day: 5
*National Underwear Day: 5
*Hiroshima Day: 6
*National Fresh Breath (Halitosis)  Day: 6
National Root Beer Float Day: 6   (See also August 19.)
National Night Out: 6 (First Tuesday)
*Lighthouse Day: 7
*Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day: 7
*Professional Speakers Day: 7
*Purple Heart Day: 7
*Dalek Day: 8
Eid-Al Fitr: 8
*The Date to Create: 8
*Happiness Happens Day: 8
*Odie Day: 8 (Garfield's pal)
*Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night: 8
Kool-Aid Day: 9-11  (Always 2nd weekend)
*International Day of The World's Indigenous People: 9
*Veep Day: 9
Worldwide Art Day: 9
*National Duran Duran Appreciation Day: 10
National Garage Sale Day: 10 (2nd Saturday)
*Skyscraper Appreciation Day: 10
*Smithsonian Day: 10
*S'mores Day: 10
*Ingersoll Day: 11
*IBM PC Day: 12
*International Youth Day: 12
*Sewing Machine Day: 12
*Vinyl Record Day: 12
*International Lefthander's Day: 13
*National Navajo Code Talkers Day: 14
*V-J Day: 14
*Best Friends Day: 15
*Chauvin Day: 15
*National Relaxation Day: 15
Hug Your Boss Day: 16   (3rd Friday)
*Joe Miller's Joke Day: 16
Men's Grooming Day: 16  (3rd Friday)
*National Airborne Day: 16
International Geocaching Day: 17 (3rd Saturday)
International Homeless Animals Day: 17 (Third Saturday)
*Meaning of "Is" Day: 17
*National Thrift Shop Day: 17
*Bad Poetry Day: 18
*Birth Control Pills Day: 18
God's Preeminence Day: 18  (Third Sunday)
*Mail Order Catalog Day: 18
*Serendipity Day: 18
(World) Daffodil Day: 18
*Aviation Day: 19
* "Black Cow" Root Beer Float Day: 19
 *World Humanitarian Day: 19 Link  (Different than Humanitarian Day on 1/15)
Cupcake Day: 19   (Third Monday)
Earth Over Shoot Day or Ecological Debt Day: 21
National Medical Dosimetrist Day: 21   (Third Wednesday)
*Poet's Day: 21
*Senior Citizen's Day: 21
*Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day: 22
*Be An Angel Day: 22
*Day For The Remembrance of The Slave Trade & Its Abolition: 23
*Valentino Day: 23
*Pluto Demoted Day: 24
*Vesuvius Day: 24
William Wilberforce Day: 24
*National Waffle Day: 24 Link
International Bat Night: 24-25  (Last Full Weekend)
*Founders Day: 25  (National Park Service)
Go Topless Day: 25 Link  (Last Sunday)
*Kiss and Make Up Day: 25
*National Second-hand Wardrobe Day: 25
*National Whiskey Sour Day: 25 Link  (Also observed on 29th)
*National Dog Day: 26
*Women's Equality Day: 26
*Slow Art Day: 27 Link
*The Duchess Who Wasn't Day: 27
*Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day: 28
*Radio Commercials Day: 28
*Crackers Over The Keyboard Day: 28
*According to Hoyle Day: 29
*Individual Rights Day: 29
*International Day Against Nuclear Tests: 29
*More Herbs, Less Salt Day: 29
*National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day: 29
*National Whiskey Sour Day: 29   (Also observed on 25th)
XIV Paralympics Games: 29-9/9
*National Holistic Pet Day: 30
*National Toasted Marshmallow Day: 30
Franchise Appreciation Day: 31 (Saturday of Labor Day weekend)
*Love Litigating Lawyers Day: 31

Until next time...
MUAH!