Twin Tuesday: Double Standard

Hey Y'all,

It has been ages since I've written a Twin Tuesday post.
I've been going through the blog and reading some of the past posts I've written about the twins and have smiled and teared up while reading them. Leah and Myles are now 4 years old and loving life. Leah is a dancer (her first recital is on Father's day) and Myles is a train/car aficionado. They are both growing up so nicely. Both funny and fun loving, however when it comes down to their father and I there is a double standard.

As you know I am currently a SAHM (are you hiring) and I've been with them 24/7 for the past four months. My husband  is self employed and is often home working in the office when he's not in the studio or traveling. We are making the best of this arrangement but... the twins have a double standard. When Daddy is on the phone everyone is quite and leaves him alone but when Mommy needs to make an important call I am needed. Doesn't matter if they want a drink, are done in the bathroom and needs assistance with wiping, wants a toy from the room I'm taking the call in etc. I am needed.

When a door is opened in our house it make a little ding sound to alert you that someone has gone out. Yesterday when I went into the garage to throw out some trash the alarm of course sounded. My daughter nearly had a breakdown (she wasn't by my side for the moment) "Daddy where is Mommy? Did she leave?" My son goes to the window to see if the car is gone. I went to sit in the dinning room and listened while they searched the house for me. Myles found me after about five minutes and accusued me of hiding from them. Now if my husband leaves the house they could care less. "Daddy's gone? Oh ok" and the questioning ends.  Sometimes it feels good and others it's quite overwhelming. Why can't Mommy have a moment, an uninterrupted moment of course?

Since I've been home Leah has been connected to me by the hip. When I move she moves. Doesn't matter if I'm going to brush my teeth or cook dinner she is right there by my side. They don't do this to their father. Maybe they did when I wasn't around but now it seems that Mommy is the parent of choice. I know I should enjoy this because soon they won't want anything to do with me but, good gracious sometimes I need to be alone.

Are there any stay at home parents out there that can give me some advice on managing these two?

Until next time...
MUAH!

Women Working: Bearfoot Yoga & Wellness Center

Hey Y'all,

Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to showcase a few women who are making there way as small business owners and doing it proudly. First I would like to spotlight a good friend of mine Gina DiMassi who parlayed her passion into her profession. 

MrsDeveter: What is the name and focus of your business?

Gina: I am pleased to introduce Bearfoot Yoga & Wellness Center. Our focus is on practicing yoga as a means for self-development and awareness while becoming a part of the larger community of like-minded people who are on the path towards a more balanced and peaceful life. We are a family-friendly environment including a babysitting room. One of our goals is for kids to see their parents taking time for themselves in healthy ways while meeting other parents and kids to build connections within their community.

MrsDeveter:Prior to starting your business what was your 9-5? 

Gina:I was a graphic designer at Penguin Publishing designing children's books for many years before I became a yoga teacher 5 years ago after the birth of my second son. Yoga has been a passion and practice of mine for 10 years.

MrsDeveter: What made you venture out and become an entrepreneur? 

Gina:I saw the need for a traditional yoga studio that was family friendly because I was craving a larger community that my sons could be a part of with me. There are many yoga studios out there but most of them do not include babysitting and the local moms that I've met were all working out at the gym for this reason alone. I knew how much yoga had helped me get through the ups and downs of early motherhood and marriage so I wanted to create a space where that supportive environment could flourish.

MrsDeveter:Who and what inspires you?

Gina: I am inspired daily by so many things it's hard to keep track! My primary inspiration is Mother Nature, I am always in awe of her power and beauty to create life, looking at my kids every day and watching them grow and change is a big source inspiration and motivation for me. My yoga teachers, in their many shapes and forms, for their power to invoke in me the deep hunger for peace in my heart.

MrsDeveter: As a business owner what is the one thing that keeps you up at night besides, turning a profit? 

Gina:The urgent need to create a community where I live to unite the growing population of people who are committed to changing the way they live in this world.

MrsDeveter: What is some advice that you would give someone who wants to start a business?

Gina:Do Yoga! My practice has helped me stay grounded and focused on the positive when things start to seem like they are spiraling out of control or if I start to get worried about finances. Taking the time for myself to get enough rest and eat healthy food and spend time with my kids also helps me stay sharp and be the most productive.

The Bearfoot Yoga & Wellness Center will open the first week of May. Please check Gina out on Facebook and "Like" her and be sure to visit her site www.BearfootYogaCenter.com for updates on our progress and special pre-opening discounts.

Until next time...

MUAH!

The Mega Million Jackpot is $640 Million. Do you play Lotto?

I wrote this post in 2009 and with all the excitement for today's Mega Millions I had to re-post it...
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Hey Y'all:

Growing up I remember my dads bulging wallet full of pink and white slips of paper. Not sure what they were I asked him about them. He told me they were Lotto tickets that he played in the past but didn't win any money from. My question was, so why are you keeping them? He didn't have a response. In the office today I saw one of my co-workers come in the door with her Lotto ticket for the Mega Millions here in NYC and that sparked a bit of discussion surrounding Lottery and gambling.

As a Christian I've always heard the pastor or speaker talk about playing the lotto or 'numbers' (back in the day my aunts and uncles would play the "numbers" my mom would always say "I can spend my dollar on a 16oz Pepsi, I'm not wasting my money on no numbers!") and say it was a sin. So I came back to my desk and found a really good article regarding gambling in answer to the question "Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling?"

The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs; Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you ). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away,  but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.; Proverbs 23:5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings  and fly off to the sky like an eagle.; Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches.

What is wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil. People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord's work, not gambled away.

Interesting right? Well I went on reading and found this even more compelling... 

Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the money to the church or to some other good cause. While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course not. Neither does God need or want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the temptation for riches.

First Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Matthew 6:24 proclaims, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

So my lovely readers, what say you? Do you gamble or play the lotto? Do you feel like Mrs. Val and get sick when you don't play and your 'number' hits? Has the lotto become an essential part of your life?

Hit me back and let me know your thoughts.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Getting My Pin On!

Hey Y'all,

I was invited to Pinterest a while but never went in and got my boards started. Well over the last three days I have been hitting the pin button HARD.

I am still trying to figure out exactly how it works but I think I might be addicted to Pinterest; have you noticed that I put a link to it on my homepage? Yup, I'm loving it and for those of you who don't know what Pinterest is - where in the world have you been? Here is the download.

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

So far I have 5 boards and 33 pins.

1. I GetGlued - This features all of getglue stickers and anything/everything entertainment related from movies, to books I pin it all here
2. Kids Room - Pretty self explanatory this board includes all my pins for the kids room inspiration
3. Home Goods - Living room, dinning room, kitchen, bedroom and even basement inspiration
4. Foodgasims - All the yummy foods that I lust after
5. Kid Creative - Fun stuff I get into with the kiddies

If you have a page please follow me and I'll be sure to follow you. I'm really enjoying my experience.

Until next time...
MUAH!

The Kidney Challenge

Hey Y'all,

Yesterday in church I was educated not only spiritually but also naturally. One of my church members gave her testimony about suffering with kidney disease and her three times weekly dialysis treatment. She went on to challenge all of us to learn about our kidney's and kidney disease as March is Kidney Awareness Month. Now y'all know that whenever I learn something I have to share it with you! So here we go.

What do kidneys do? (Source: WebMD)

• The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen. Each kidney is about 4 or 5 inches long -- about the size of a fist.
• The kidneys' function are to filter the blood. All the blood in our bodies passes through the kidneys several times a day. The kidneys remove wastes, control the body's fluid balance, and regulate the balance of electrolytes. As the kidneys filter blood, they create urine, which collects in the kidneys' pelvis -- funnel-shaped structures that drain down tubes called ureters to the bladder.
• Each kidney contains around a million units called nephrons, each of which is a microscopic filter for blood. It's possible to lose as much as 90% of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms or problems.

Women's History Month 2012

Hey Y'all,

Today is the first day of Women's History Month. Here is President Obama's proclamation

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2012 as Women’s History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2012, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the history, accomplishments, and contributions of American women. I also invite all Americans to visit www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the generations of women who have shaped our history.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.- BARACK OBAMA

In celebration I will profile 8 women that I know and love, who are an inspiration to me because of their brilliance and determination in a "mans world". These women are mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and business women; who are sharing their their God given talents with the world. Please be sure to stop by and celebrate them with me.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Lessons of a "Stay at Home Mom"

Hey Y'all:

The saying is so true. You have to be careful what you ask for because you might just get it and everything that comes with the package. So before you put it out in the atmosphere make sure you are ready for it... I share this because around this time last year I wrote a post about my desire to be a stay at home mom. Little did I know that my wish would come true. After 3 yrs of blood (from paper cuts), sweat (the office could get a little hot) and tears (my colleagues/friends and I would laugh at the antics of upper management until we cried) my position was eliminated. So here I sit a month unemployed and a bonafided stay at home mom; honestly I don't know how I was doing all that I was doing while working. I must have been dead tired and didn't know it. I mean I was out of the house from 7:15 AM until 7:30 PM still helped with homework and projects, cooked dinner, washed clothes, blogged, played with the kiddies and completed my wifely duties (if you know what I mean). I say this because my days now are just as full! I am truly enjoying being at home with my kiddies (now) at first I gotta admit it was a bit of a struggle. You get so accustomed to having a out of home schedule that this staying at home stuff can wear you out. I'm sure many of you can relate.