Easy Dinner: Greek Pitas

I love Greek food, I love it so much that my husband thinks I was Greek in my past life. This is a VERY easy recipe and VERY yummy!

• Grilled chicken
• Pitas
• Salad
• Feta
• Black Olives
• Balsamic or greek dressing

I usually grill the chicken or you can use the Perdue already cooked grilled chicken. Make a salad, add the chicken, black olives, feta and salad dressing of your choice. Mix well. Stuff in the pita. YUM and Refreshing too! Serve with fries, rice or salad on the side. 

Quote

“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” James Dean

Feel Good Song- James Blunt

You're Beautiful (Live at the BBC) Not Edited!


I love this song and the story behind it. He really did write this song about a girl he saw with another man and he was struck by her beauty. The reality is that he knows he would never be with her but for some reason she struck him to inspire him to write a song about her.

Now I am a believer of old souls, soulmates and love at first site. Maybe this is one of those situations! I mean how many times do you meet someone who you do not know and can't get them out of your head?! When and if it does happen it is a pretty crazy experience. Your not sure why, but they were placed there for a reason. Like that person somehow was meant to be in your life. It is like you are connected but you don't know how or why.
This girl was one of those for him. He wrote a hit song just from his encounter with her! Amazing!!

How Old Are You "Toooo"

I love when I ask my daughter how old she is and she says "Toooo" she doesn't say two, she drags out the "ooo" It is amazing that she is two. Two years ago I could not image what kind of Mom I would be or person. She has helped me grow these past two years into a more patient, understanding person. She has helped me see life in a totally different and new light.

Being a mom and watching your child grow into this amazing little person is the most surreal experience. I see alot of myself in her although she looks just like her father. She brings out this kid in me, this person who wants to conquer the world and see life differently. I never get angry if I am up all night with her, I try not to yell at her unless she is really doing something wrong. She is this little person eager to learn and see what life is about and I love being her 'teacher.'

I can't wait to see what the next year and years bring. I feel like we are growing together and it is truly a blessing. I love the person I am when I am with her.

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Girl and thank you for picking me to be your Mommy!

Minnie Mouse Cake

For my daughter's 2nd birthday this year I wanted to do a Minnie Mouse theme. Even though the whole time I shopped with her she was fighting me for Dora-which I did for her last year-I managed to convince her to have a Minnie Mouse theme party.

I was able to find Minnie Mouse balloons, plates, invites, and candles but I could not find a Minnie Mouse cake pan anywhere. I searched for Minnie Mouse molds, pans, cake pans, and had no luck! So I bought a Minnie Mouse candle and decided to make my own Minnie Mouse cake. It didn't come out exactly how I planned but it was really cute!

It was a small cake, but we took our sisters and parents to brunch and after that huge meal who really was going to eat cake besides the kids?! Below are some pictures.

            

Chocolate Mickey lollipops

While most of my friends were out partying I was home making these awesome Mickey lollipops for my daughter's 2nd birthday. I wanted to make Minnie lollipops but I could not find the mold.

It was soooo easy to make and fun!

• Molds
• Lollipop sticks
• 5 bags of Ghirardelli semi sweet chocolate chips

Wash molds, let them air dry. Spray with cooking spray. Melt chocolate, I like to melt it on the stove top using a double burner. Spoon into molds. Place lollipop sticks in mold. Freeze for 20-30 mins until dry and dull.They should pop right out. Makes 45 lollipops

Wrap in plastic and tie a festive ribbon around them . The left over chocolate I dipped tangerines into them and used them as a toppings for the cupcakes!


Pictures below....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! This year I am especially grateful for everyone in my life,

everyone who have touched my life, and everyone who I love and cherish.

I wish you and your family and friends a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Eat up and enjoy your day!

Feel Good Song-Train

Hey, Soul Sister (This is my daughter's favorite song)

Turkey Day

I love Thanksgiving, I always have but I especially love it since two years ago on Thanksgiving is when I went into labor. It was funny too that the doctors told me I was due on Thanksgiving, my husband and I always loved the holiday-then again I am not sure how many people I know who DON'T like Thanksgiving. You hardly reach your "due" date so I never imaged I would actually go into labor on Thanksgiving.

I remember feeling off that day and came home early from having Thanksgiving lunch with his family and took a nap. I woke up, ate leftovers-big mistake- and by 10:00 that night my water broke. Man, I will never forget that night, I kept wishing I never ate those leftovers. But the next morning- 6:00 am- my bundle of joy was born. Yep, she was born on "black friday" the busiest shopping day of the year...that is probably why she likes to play with my credit cards whenever I pull them out.

How lucky am I to always have this wonderful memory of my daughter being born every time Thanksgiving rolls around!

Happy Turkey Day to you and your family!

EZ Sox- Training Socks for Kids

These are the cutest socks I have ever seen for Toddlers. EZ Sox, the first and only training sock on the market today for children ages 2 to 5, come with two grips on the top of the socks making it easy for kids to pull their socks on. When my daughter first saw them she said "Aww so cute. " She loves her cat socks!

The best part about these socks is that they come in 10 different designs so matching socks are very easy- you can also purchase them in solid colors too.

Check out their site to order a pair today!

Feel Good Song-Sara Bareilles

King of Anything

Love

As a child I always thought falling in love would be having my prince charming come sweep me off my feet. I believed in love at first site. As you get older you realize that love is a wonderful feeling you have for people you care about. Falling in and out of love happens fast but when you find that one person who makes you feel good about yourself and helps you become who you are and who you want to be, that is when falling in love really makes a difference.

Someone once said when you are with the person you love does anything else matter? Yes, reality of life is that some many things conflict with what matters. Problems occur, people grow and change. But love should remain the same. We get caught up in our daily routines; we get caught up in what we have to do. But when you are with the one you love you have to work through it. Falling in love and loving someone are two different feelings, two different ways you feel. Everyone should experience falling in love; it is those who stay in love who really get to appreciate what it truly means! So I came across some 'Love' quotes since I am feeling in a 'Love' kind of way.


“Trying to make someone fall in love with you is about as pointless as trying to control who you fall in love with.” Similar Quotes

“Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.” Similar Quotes
“Every man is afraid of something. That's how you know he's in love with you; when he is afraid of losing you.” Similar Quotes

Feel Good Song-Train

If it's Love

Easy Dinner: Paninis

Who does not enjoy a yummy Panini once in a while! I love making Paninis out of leftover cold cuts I have in the fridge.

• Cold cuts- prosciutto, salami, provolone are the best
• Arugula
• Italian bread- rolls, wedges work too
• Balsamic vinegar

Spray your griddle or pan with cooking oil, stuff the bread with all the ingredients, sprinkle balsamic on it, top with bread. Spray the top and bottom of the panini. Place on hot pan. If you do not have a panini press use another pan to apply weight, or a brick wrapped in aluminium foil. Once golden brown and cheese melted serve with a salad and fries. YUM!!!

Happiness

It's a hard lesson in life to learn and to accept but the truth is you can not,
 no matter what, make everyone happy!

"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Elbert Hubbard

Feel Good Song-Mary J. Blige

Just Fine Video

Best Day of Your Life Quote

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” Bob Moawad

Feel Good Song: Seal

Amazing-Live

Indeed.com Great Job Search Site

Although I do believe the economy is getting better everyday, there are still people without a job. With the holidays coming it only makes it tougher emotionally on those looking for work. I must say I have been unemployed around the holidays before and although you may think people will not hire they will. I actually got a job offer beginning of January when I was seeking employment so sit back and enjoy the holidays and pick up your search after but you will find the right position!

In the meantime this is a GREAT site and resource for job search in your area. http://www.indeed.com/ combines all the job posting on other sites into one. Type in your area and job description and it will pull your matches from all different sites. I love this site and actually found my current position on Indeed.com so I HIGHLY recommend it.

Happy Hunting! 

Sometimes you have to just laugh it off!

Feel Good Song: Nelly Furtado

I'm Like A Bird

Life

In life women tend to need certain things to make them happy. Some people need a lot of money, some people need a lot of material stuff, some people need a lot of attention and others need a busy social life. It is funny that we are never 100% fulfilled with what makes us happy. If we make more money we still want more, if we have a lot of stuff we still go out and buy more, if we are in a relationship we always second guess if it is going ok, if we always have plans we find ourselves double booking ourselves. It is as if we crave to fulfil  a void in our lives.

I think women in general have a lot of emotional issues, I mean that as kind as possible. I mean our hormones play a huge role in our life and men and women are completely different. Men do not read into stuff like we do, they want something they go get it, they crave a burger they eat a burger.

Girls over look and over think things. We make plans and change them over and over again, we look at every situation from every possible angle and analyze it and usually vent to a couple of girlfriends about it- asking for their opinions and what they would do, we crave a burger and end up eating something healthier and still end up craving that burger.

Being with my husband for as long as I have I kind of envy how guys are. They don't stress the small stuff, if they are not happy they fix it, they don't overlook situations-they see things as they are, not all the "fluff" around it. I mean I can be upset about something for weeks and my husband can't understand how I can't get over it. The reality is why can't I get over it? How can he get in an argument settle it and an hour later be ok with it? I on the other hand, get upset, we talk about it, we talk about it some more and when it settles I am still upset about it. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

I guess we are always too busy analyzing the life we are that we need to stop and be happy for the way things are now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?! We all know we can try to plan for it but that doesn't mean it will work out that way.

I think women are so afraid of missing an opportunity or staying in a situation we are not 100% percent about. We always think about long term, not short term and we end up missing out on all the good that is happening in the current time. I know I do it and I am sure you have to.

So we all know no one has the answers in Life and no one can change something we are unhappy about in our life except for ourselves. We need to stop analyzing and confusing our lives. We need to try to let go of the things we have no control off and enjoy today! We need to focus on the core problem we are unhappy with and stop trying to fulfill it with material things or relationships or money.  Before you know it will be too late and it's over before we know it! “Life's a journey, not a destination” Steven Tyler

Feel Good Song: Katy Perry

Firework

Music

It is funny how music soothes the soul. I love to sing to my daughter and with her. So it is funny how the songs I choose to sing to her are feel good songs. I always compliment my daughter and when I put an outfit on her ask her if she feels beautiful.

I am 1 of 3 girls so we grew up relying on ourselves and were taught to be confident and strong women.  I notice I push those traits on my daughter even though she is so young I want her to grow up to feel confident in who she is and how she looks regardless of what others around her may say. I want her to depend on herself and be self sufficient. I want her to marry someone one day because she wants to not because she depends on him financially or emotionally.

My father always made sure whenever we went on a date we had money in our pocket and didn't expect anyone to pay for us. He wanted us to depend on ourselves. Those lessons stuck with me through my whole life. I mean after all I was not elected class feminist for no reason, I am a believer in equality and women rights.

I also believe we all have this vision of who we should be and not who we really are.  We all need to realize that "Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."George Bernard Shaw

So I will posting some feel good songs that I think you too will enjoy! Please feel free to suggest any feel good songs you enjoy and I will post them! Thanks!

We Go Outside?!

My daughter loves to play outside, no matter what the weather is like outside she is constantly asking me to go outside. I noticed that she is repeating me alot too. I have two dogs so I am constantly asking them if they want to go outside. So my daughter's daily new habit is to ask me every morning and after her naps "We go outside?...We go on slide?...We go on swing?" Normally my answer is no not yet it's too cold or it's dark out. But when I do say yes her face lights up and she runs off to get her shoes.

It is funny how relaxing it is for me to play outside with her. Normally we jump around from the baby swing, to the slide, to the kid swing, then the tire swing. She sits on my lap and asks me to sing to her while we are swinging away. It is those little moments I cherish...mommy and daughter hanging out on the swing together and it is sooo peaceful.

She loves to explore too. She will run down the hill and pick up pine cones or play in the leaves. She is totally an outdoors kindof girl. Now that the weather is getting colder once the sun is out we run out there for 20 minutes until I notice her little hands and nose turning red from the cold.

Joke of the Day: The Italian Secret to a Long Marriage

At St. Peter's Catholic Church in Toronto, they have weekly husbands' marriage seminars. At the session last week, the priest asked Giuseppe, who said he was approaching his 50th wedding anniversary, to take
a few minutes and share some insight into how he had managed to stay married to the same woman all these years.

Giuseppe replied to the assembled husbands, 'Wella, I'va tried to treat her nicea, spenda da money on her, but besta of all is, I tooka her to Italy for the 25th anniversary!'

The priest responded, 'Giuseppe, you are an amazing inspiration to all the husbands here! Please tell us what you are planning for your wife for your 50th anniversary?'

Giuseppe proudly replied, "I gonna go pick her up...."

Tate's Cookies Coupon

These are by far the best cookies out there.They are light and crunchy and always taste so fresh. My favorite are their wheat chocolate chip, my husband loves their chocolate chip cookies. I am also a fan of their oatmeal and sugar cookies. The only place we used to be able to get them was in the Hampton's but now you can buy them online at http://www.tatesbakeshop.com/ or at Whole Foods and Balducci's.


To receive $5 off visit their site http://www.tatesbakeshop.com/ and use coupon code THANKS2010 Good until Nov 25th so hurry and order some soon!!

Party Quote

"Never be the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home and never, never be both”  David Brown

Event Planning

I LOVE TO PLAN EVENTS! I love throwing parties and gatherings. I think that may be my next calling in life. Don't get me wrong it is a lot of work and stressful but I love to party, and most of the time they turn out great!

My friends always joke that they need two days to recover from one of my parties. I am like a social butterfly and like to connect with people in different locations and areas so whenever a party comes up I can refer them or work with them.

I love being a resource to where to go or eat or book a party. My husband's friend contacted me yesterday to provide a list of locations for his company's holiday party. He knows I have been to a ton of places so I sent him a list of places to look into for his holiday party. My friend came back to town for dinner and she was going out with a girlfriend and texted me for suggestions of where they should go. Within minutes I provided a list and my favorite dishes at each place. She ended up going to my favorite restaurant-Brasistas and they loved it! My girlfriend just got engaged and asked me to email her a list of places she should look into. She was cracking up because within 20 minutes I sent her a list of 10 venues and what I liked and did not like about them. I have a very busy social life and go out to dinner almost once a week. I always seem to take in everything around me, and love chic places. I am very observant and like details. I also like to try new places, yes I do go back to the ones I like but for the most part I like to try new restaurants and new places.


As a Virtual Assistant I have to work with so many different people at different levels so my comfort level with communicating with others is pretty high. I also have learned to ask the right questions when picking venues for my client's events since I am not local and can not see the venues for my self.

I think I am a great communicator, people may say I complain a lot but the fact is I like to express my opinion-not that it is always right but I am very open about what I like and do not like. Yes, at times I should keep my opinion to myself but most of the time I have a loose tongue!

So for any of you out there who need help with planning an event or need ideas for locations please feel free to contact me. I will be sure to give you my honest opinion and would be more than happy to help!

Quote

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson

Fruit Nut!

My daughter is addicted to fruit. Every morning she wakes up and goes to the counter and says "BANA" I used to think she was saying "Pane'" which is bread. Nope she wants a banana every morning. Then at breakfast she will have pancakes or cereal with either a baby bowl of strawberries or grapes. Throughout the day she will eat another banana, watermelon, grapes, and or strawberries. Her new obsession are oranges and tangerines. Sometimes she will ask for applesauce. Sooo being the curious mom I am I decided to do my research on the fruit she is eating.


Fun Fruit Facts:

• Fruit and your brain: it makes you think faster and recall information more easily

• Fruit is full of fiber and a diet with lots of fiber can help against  high blood pressure, and other factors that increase the chance for a heart disease.

For more Fruit Facts visit: http://www.thefruitpages.com/whyfruit.shtml

Easy Dinner: Chicken Wraps

I am all about the PERDUE Fully Cooked Short Cuts Chicken. For $5.00 or when they are on sale you get a pound of chicken already cooked and seasoned. I love to use these for chicken wraps.

• Package of PERDUE Fully Cooked Short Cuts Italian Seasoned Chicken
• Wraps
• American Cheese
• Barbecue Sauce

Directions:

Assemble wraps with chicken, top with American cheese and barbecue sauce and roll. Bake until golden brown at 350 degrees.

Serve with fries and a side salad. This is a great product to even toss in a salad, or if you are short on time mix with lettuce and Caesar dressing and make wraps with it. Enjoy!

Destination Wedding

When my sister first got engaged she told me that they wanted to do a destination wedding. My thoughts at first were a little uneasy!  Image 100 people you know on vacation together, flying with a wedding gown, tuxes, all your wedding items, favors, meeting vendors through the Internet and unsure of how it will all turn out all seemed a little too overwhelming to me.

I had a traditional wedding, I got married in a church had 300 guests at a country club in New Rochelle. So when I think of weddings I relate it to mine, so it was hard to relate to my sister's when she said she wanted to do this. We all went along not sure what the outcome would be...there were date changes and vendor changes that gave my sister second thoughts about what she wanted to do!

When she finally booked it and finalized a date we all were pretty excited about it. It was something new, and different. At first it was hard to help her plan, pick menus, flowers etc...when we could not envision the hall, food, island.

But with that all said it was a really cool, easy, unique, amazing experience. Forty  family members and friends all stayed at the same resort, we partied every day, we gathered together on a private island to witness two people who we all love dearly exchange vows to love and honor one another on a white beach, with the ocean two feet from us. Best of all my husband, daughter and I were all in the wedding, our close family and dearest friends were all there, and I finally got a chance to see Aruba!

The wedding was amazing. We took a private boat to a private island. They exchanged their vows while flamingos were walking around the beach. I loved how you could hear the ocean in the back ground. Their pictures look like they came out of a magazine. We danced in the white sand, surrounded by palm trees and we all; bride, groom, wedding party and guests ended the night dancing in the ocean, with their tuxes, gowns and all under the stars.

So for all of you out there who are engaged or are thinking of getting married keep all options open and best of all do what works best for you! My sister and I both had equally amazing weddings but completely different from one another. I am proud of her for taking the initiative to do what made her happy, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience for all of us!

Aruba September 25, 2010

Jess & Pete

                                                  

'Tis the season

With Christmas 6 weeks away...yep only 6 weeks away, I have decided to get organized and begin my holiday shopping. I have about 30 plus people to shop for so I took out my spreadsheet from last year and started on a clean slate.

I am usually good with preparing a head of time so I started to take out all the outfits and toys I have already purchased and realized I have about 24 people to shop for, 6 down 24 to go.  I always feel I am crunched for time since my daughter's birthday is around Thanksgiving and my mind is focused on preparing for that.

It is amazing the sales that stores have going on. I have said this before and I will say it again, spend the $1.50 on Sundays and buy a newspaper. It is filled with circulars and coupons, deals and specials.

The Internet is filled with deals! Whenever I shop on-line I always Google coupons for the stores I am shopping at and 9 out of 10 times there is a coupon online. No one should have to pay full price and no one should feel stressed financially when it comes to the holidays. It just takes some preparation and organization and you will find that the holidays can be enjoyable after all!

Need help organizing a spreadsheet then click here!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Easy Dinner: TACOS

I cook a lot, I probably cook at least 3 to 4 nights a week...I know some people cook everyday but for those of us who want some easy, cost friendly meals I will be adding some easy dinners to my blog to help make your night more enjoyable with spending less time in the kitchen.

• 1 1/2 lb of ground meat or turkey meat or meatloaf meat
• 1 package of Ortega taco family pack- this includes taco shells, cheese sauce, taco sauce and seasoning

Directions:

Brown meat, drain, add taco seasoning with water (follow directions on package) I like the taco shells crunchy so I bake them for about 15 mins in a 350 degree oven.

Serve with salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese-moteray jack is good, chopped tomatoes and chopped lettuce.

I love side dishes, so I served this with white rice, nachos ( just use Tortilla chips and top with shredding moteray jack and put in microwave) and a salad.

I would say this dinner costs no more than $7.00 for a family of four. You can get fancy and add as many toppings as you like but I like to keep it simple. These left overs are great just mix the taco meat with white rice and snack on it with the left over tortilla chips.

Who said making dinners had to be complicated?! ENJOY!

Everyone needs a Best Friend

I have been blessed with so many wonderful, strong, successful women in my life. I also have been extremely blessed to say I have a best friend who I have been friends with for 24 years-wow 24 years and we still could talk for endless hours at a time.

Throughout our friendship we have had our ups and downs, we moved away from one another and took different turns in our lives but we always seen to make our way back to one another. She brings out the good in me, she makes me laugh so hard that it makes me want to cry. She is honest without hurting my feelings and she has always had my back. I love her like my sister and feel God gave us one another to get through the good, the bad and the tough times in our lives.

I am glad to know that we will grow old together, we"ll stay young together and we'll always be there for one another even when things get too rough, tough or when we need a shoulder to cry on, laugh on or just because. I think everyone needs that one, special person to turn to, to laugh with and cry with and even "jump around the room with and sing into the back of a hair brush" with!

I hope one day my daughter finds that one special person, of course she'll always have me, but she needs that one person she could rely on to help her be a better person. I am glad I do and I honestly believe that my best friend is a part of me and I am a part of her!

GIVEAWAY

Tell me "How do you make your busy morning routine special for your family?"

and you could win a prize pack from Kix through MyBlogSpark.

Respond to this blog post by November 15th for a chance to win a prize pack including a 24-piece counting-themed floor puzzle, fun learn-to-count flashcards, a sippy cup, a portable snack container and a box each of Original Kix and Honey Kix cereals.

Prize pack was provided from Kix through MyBlogSpark.

True Intentions

I have this one person in my life that is not quiet happy for anyone unless they are happy. I hate to admit it and personally think it is a sad thing. For a while I thought deep down they had good intentions but don't know how to really show it, so they behave in a strange way.  Well I notice they are coming around more and it just so happens that things are looking up for them. It is tough not to look past the things they have done in the past when they were not in a good place and to restart a relationship. Even though their current actions are kind I somehow can not help to think their intentions are not true.

Then again I know we are all guilty of it. How many of us do things without the right intentions in mind?!  How many of us do things without the intentions of it resulting in a negative way? Sometime we do things without really knowing what our intentions truly are!

"We judge others by their behavior. We judge ourselves by our intentions.” Ian Percy

Reading: One Day My Soul Just Opened Up

I decided to do some Soul searching. From reading my previous posts you can tell I am a believer of signs and happiness and I have been in a little funk and thought it was time to do some Soul Searching.

We all come to a point in our lives when what we have just does not seem to be enough or where we are at is not where we thought we would be or for some reason even though we have so much we still feel like we are missing something. I mean maybe it is a better job, a bigger house, more children, or just more happiness in our day-to-day routine.

So I began to reread One Day My Soul Just Opened Up by Iyanla Vanzant. By rereading I mean a couple of years ago before I had  my daughter I was in a funk, I lost my job because my company closed, I was involved in a really terrible accident-luckily no one was hurt too bad and I could not get pregnant. I needed a reminder that I was in charge of my happiness. So I read this book and followed their steps and woke up knowing that things would get better and by having that mind set things did get better.

I just started to reading this book again and already realized that I love to write and stopped looking for publishers for my two novels and am down on myself about it so I want to start that up again- also I need to finish the other two I started to write. I realized that I do want another child- my daughter needs a playmate and she would make a great big sister. I realized that I need to have a better work schedule, I need to go to the gym more- I have been only going two times a week and that is not enough. Most importantly I realized that I need to  find things to do on the weekends with my family that involve us three as a family.

If you need a reminder of how to deal with things or some inspiration then this is the book to read.

Stop * Breathe * Smile

I can't get over that it is already November, that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, that my daughter will be two soon and I have hardly put a dent in my holiday shopping. When I think of all of this I just want to crawl into my bed and sleep it away. What I tend to forget is that this is just the reality of life, everyday will be something. So I force myself to stop, breathe and smile. And take it one day at a time!
This song always seems to help me!

Mommy you K?!

I LOVE laying in bed with my daughter. I lay in bed with her at night and watch her Dora before I put her to bed and the first thing I do when she wakes up is put her in bed with me.


So this morning I am laying in bed with her, she rolls over on her belly, and cups my face with her two tiny hands. I could feel her breath on my face and she says "Hi Momma, U K?!" I swear I almost teared up because it was the cutest thing ever! I started to laugh, so she laughed and it was the best way to wake up this morning!


I wish every morning I could start my day like that! It's those little moments in life that are good for the soul. My daughter is good for my soul!Needless to say it was a great day!

Kix Cereal YUM

My daughter always gave me trouble when I tried to switch her milk from a bottle to a sippy cup. Since then she refuses to drink milk so I turn to cereal with milk everyday to help her get the calcium she needs. Her new favorite cereal is Kix.

I like to mix Kix cereal  flavors honey with original. I even find myself munching on the crunchy little puffs. As a kid I loved Kix as a snack so the slogan "Kid-Tested Mother-Approved®" seems fitting when I feed them to my daughter.

As a work from home mom I find it difficult to make pancakes every  morning, so cereal is usually the first thing I start my day off feeding my daughter. We sit down together and I make sure my blackberry is turned off to avoid any interuptions. I think that 20 minute bonding time makes a huge difference and it helps us start our day off right. Tell me "How do you make your busy morning routine special for your family?" and you could win a prize pack from Kix through MyBlogSpark.


Respond to this blog post by November 15th for a chance to win a prize pack including a 24-piece counting-themed floor puzzle, fun learn-to-count flashcards, a sippy cup, a portable snack container and a box each of Original Kix and Honey Kix cereals. Prize pack was provided from Kix through MyBlogSpark

Mommy's Mood

It's funny how I have noticed my daughter has been a little aggressive lately and moody. She is reaching the terrible 2's but I noticed there is much more than that. The reason has been me. I have been moody, so she's been moody.

I never realized it until today when I decided to put my butt in gear and be happier around her and she softened up a bit. My mom always told me that when we were younger whenever she was in a bad mood, we were in a bad mood.

Funny how kids react to the way we do, the way we feel and the way we act. Although my mood is just something that will pass, hormones, over worked, lack of sleep...I know now that I must pick and choose how I want to feel so my daughter won't be affected by it!

So when we have bad days, they will have bad days. Pick and choose those bad days because at the end of "every hurricane there is a rainbow!"

It's Minnie

Halloween was great! My daughter loved trick or treating! For the houses that had lights on but did not respond she would shout "Come on..." So funny the personalities they develop so young.

She was Minnie Mouse this year and looked sooo cute. So I figured I would do a Minnie Mouse theme for her 2nd bday and headed to Party City with her to buy invites. Well, the whole time she was screaming for Dora. I couldn't help but laugh. Here I was trying to do something different and she wanted Dora.

I stuck to my guns and bought all Minnie Mouse decorations and figured if she gave me trouble again we could do Dora for her 3rd birthday. Below is my lil Minnie Mouse!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Wow, is it just me or did Halloween come fast this year?! I usually am on top of my game with making a costume and putting out my decorations. This year I finally put away my summer clothes just to take them out again...Indian summer in my area.

This year I handed two costumes to my daughter and she decided to pick the one off the shelf. It is really cute and yes it's a surprise...I will post pictures next week. We finally took her pumpkin picking where all she wanted to do was play with the kids running around the farm. We finally choose two pumpkins and all of our pictures are of her looking the other way. Yes, she is almost two so for her to sit still is almost impossible!

My husband and I will be hippies and attending a housewarming/halloween party Saturday night. Kind of fun to dress up. There weren't too many appealing couples costumes out there but the ones we choose are fun and hip. Plus cheap and comfortable.

With all that said I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Halloween!!! Pictures to come. Stay tuned...



Hippie <3



Yogurt Smoothie YUM

Ever since I switched my daughter from her  baba to a sippy cup she refused to drink her milk. I usually give her Cheerios and milk and she will take it that way.  The other day I was feeding her yogurt and decided to make her a Yogurt Smoothie and she kept saying YUM the whole time she was drinking it.

*1/2 cup flavored yogurt-peach/strawberry/strawberry and banana ect...
*1 cup milk
*2 ice cubes

Blend-or put in Magic Bullet and serve with a straw. I am sure your toddler will be saying YUM too!

HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

Have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Romano's Macaroni Grill YUM!

I have to admit this was a YUMMY dish and it only took 15 mins to make. Just add milk, cover and dinner or an excellent side dish for dinner or lunch is served! The smell filled the house, and the chicken was so tender! Even the baby loved it. Check out my pictures:

YUM!

To receive a sample please contact me and I will be glad to have it sent to you!!!

Please note the sample, prize pack and giveaway were all provided by

Macaroni Grill through MyBlogSpark.

Summer in the Hamptons 2010

I'm Back

Wow, it's been a while since I have posted. It's been a very busy August. I have been spending many of my summer days in the Hamptons, enjoying a wonderful house in Sag Harbor. There is something about going away that makes you focus on your life and your needs and of course relaxation is always key.

My daughter who is now 20 months was loving every second of her vacation. She loves the ocean and the pool at the house. She tried everything we ate and of course approached anyone eating an ice cream cone in hopes that they would share it with her. We learned early on NOT to give her any ice cream before bed time.

On our cloudy days we went to Montack and Shelter Island. We shopped and ate in East Hampton, Sag Harbor and Bridge Hampton. The week and weekends do fly by but the time there is well spent. We started going to the local Farm Stands which carried the sweetest grapes I have ever eaten.  We found an ice cream shop that sold non fat vanilla peanut butter ice cream that is to die for!

One of our favorite sandwhich shops is Espresso's, after a week of eating their foccia bread we realized they made wheat foccia bread- which is sooo yummy! Overall, I think I lost weight from lugging all my daughters beach toys back and forth. Our favorite beach is Mecox and for those who have been knows all the sand dunes that do not make lugging stuff easy to do.

Yes, vacations are so different when you have a child. We no longer stay at the beach for endless hours and my husband was amazed at how often my daughter ate. 8:00 bedtimes allowed us to relax outside with a nice bottle of wine from the vineyards. I saw 4 shooting stars in one week- not bad! My mom found a four leaf clover in the yard-guess we are magnets for luck!

 I am not putting away any bathing suits until after Labor day! I am not ready to let the cold get the best of me yet! As Summer comes to an end for all of us I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have.

Daddy and his Daughter

When I found out I was pregnant I would have been happy either way with what I was having, but once I found out it was a girl all I could do was think about what a great Daddy my Husband would be to her.

I love the relationship my husband has with my daughter. This tough guy melts everytime he sees her and she adores him like no one I have ever seen. Every night after dinner he sits with her watches her favorite cartoons before bed and puts her to bed. If I go out or go to the gym he'll take her to the store or for ice cream.

I love the father he is with her. If I get frustrated with her he has this calm way of making things better. He is a good dad or "PaPa" like my daughter says and I love the man he is when he's with her. I know they will be buddies for life, and like the great "Pop" I have, I am grateful that she has one too!

Are you living the "American Dream?"

The other day I asked my client how they were and they said "Just living the American Dream." Their remark got me thinking. What is the "American Dream,” and are we living it?

I guess when you break it down I can say I am in a way; I am happy, married, have a child, house, cars in the drive way, dogs. I eat out when I want to, take vacations, and vote. But is that it?! Do you really feel you are living the endless possibilities, opportunities, which America has to offer?

I must say that working from home is a wonderful "American Dream" I also feel the freedom we have to be who ever we want to be, live where ever we want to live, go to college, vote, walk into a room filled with people and be surrounded by different cultures are all aspects of the "American Dream."

I guess each individual can define what the "American Dream" could be, and what it really is. Regardless, I guess if we are happy then we must be doing something right! So with all that said lets be grateful to live in a country of endless possibilities and opportunities. Let's all live the "American Dream!"

SING

My daughter's new favorite word is "Sing." She is constantly telling us to "Sing, Sing" it is too funny! She even tries to sing along to the songs on the radio. When she says the word it sounds more like "Siiing." I am already a huge fan of music so I think it is great that she is into it too. I hope she sticks to this new obsession.

Mommy's Night Out

Lately I have been having a lot of nights out, some with girlfriends, other's with family and mostly with my Husband. I hate when I feel guilty going out. Most of the time it is at night when the baby is already asleep, sometimes it is dinner time. The problem is I work from home so I do not have the interaction all day with people. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my life, I am grateful to work from home. But I notice I look forward to my time away from home just to get some air, space and be around people. I know there is no harm in it and everyone deserves it, but I can not help but feel guilty when I do it.

To make up for it I take my daughter to the beach, Stew's or to the pool during the day. I wonder if she will ever really appreciate having me with her? I bet she won't realize it until she has a family of her own. I adore her and adore what life I built for myself.

I was at the gym one day and on the cover of New York magazine was an article titled "I love my children, I hate my life." Pretty harsh if you asked me. But the reality is that we consume so much of who we are into our family and home that we loose a little of who we really are. I guess I gain a little of that when I am out and have to focus just on my self. I gain a little independence and appreciate my family more when I come home.

So for all you mommies out there who ever felt guilty like me, don't. We are actually becoming better people and happier, making us appreciate our family life a little more. This in the end will make us better parents.

Cookbook/Scrapebook

TASTEBOOK is an amazing gift idea. I just did it with my sister's bridal party as one of her shower gifts and she and everyone who participated LOVED it! Basically what it is is a personalized recipe/cook book and you can attach any photos to it.

What we did was contacted everyone we knew who was attending the shower and asked them to please forward a recipe and personalized message to the bride and groom. We then posted a picture to the recipe that included the person who gave us the recipe. It is sooo easy and sooo much fun. Plus they look so profesional and is a great keepsake!!! It was the perfect cookbook/scrapebook in one!

New York City

We spent the day in New York City for the 4th of July. It was my daughter's first time on a train, first cab ride and first time in the Big Apple. She loved every minute of it.

We spent most of the day in Central Park. We took her to the Central Park Zoo and watched the Sea Lion show. The Polar Bears where huge and the Sea Lions were sooo happy, it was so cute. We ate lunch at the Boat House, over looking the pond where everyone was in row boats. It was a beautiful day.

I could not believe how clean the park was. I was so impressed how nice it was and there were hardly any homeless people. There were a ton of people and entertainment all throughout the park. I always loved it there but for some reason I really appreciated it this time around. It was a great day trip and I think my daughter would appreciate it one day! So for all you locals who have been to New York City but never Central Park, make an effort to stop there next time and appreciate all the creativity that surrounds it!

Big Apple Circus is coming to Connecticut!!

I loved the Circus when I was a kid. I remember being so excited to see all the performers, animals and of course the vendors! So I am so excited that they are back in down.

The Big Apple Circus will be performing Bello is Back! in Stamford, CT from Friday, July 9th to Sunday, July 25th under the Big Top at Mill River Park.


I know some people object to the circus so before I posted this blog I did a little research and I was happy to see that they had a page dedicated to Animal Care http://www.bigapplecircus.org/about/backstage/animal-care.aspx


I was able to get 30% off all tickets and share this information with all of you!!!

To purchase your discounted tickets to the Big Apple Circus:


Online: http://www.bigapplecircus.org/STAMFORDpop.aspx and submit the code POP10 in the Promotional Codes box

By Phone: CALL 888-541-3750 and mention code POP10

In Person: The Circus Box Office located in front of the Big Top at Mill River Park (West Park Place & Washington Blvd), will open Friday, July 9th; hours are Tues–Fri, 10AM–8PM; Sat–Mon, 10AM–6PM

*Offer good on select seat locations and performances. Must present this blog post to receive discount at the box office. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer is subject to availability; not valid on prior purchases; cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. This offer can be revoked at any time. Discount amount varies. Limit 8 tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees.

Deal Finder: YOGA PANTS

I am IN LOVE with these Yoga Pants from Old Navy. They remind me of my comfy maternity pants. Try them out and enjoy 30% when you use Coupon Code: ONBIG30

Old Soul

Ever run into someone and feel like you've known them all your life, or have a flashback and can't remember why? Ever feel so connected to someone and you are not sure why? Ever wonder if your soul has had another life prior to yours?

I swear my daughter is an old soul. Things come so natural to her; she is a fast learner and has little fear. It is as if she is doing everything for the second time. The other day we were in the pool and she starting kicking in her float to get to the edge, like it was the natural thing to do, I praised her and she looked at me as if I was crazy. You teach her a word and she grasps it as if she has said it 1,000 times before, she already knows what food she likes and doesn't like before she even tries them.

Ever wonder were your soul has been? I always like to think we are back for a reason or person. Maybe a good marriage is to make up for the bad ones we have had in the past. I like to think bad things happen to make our soul stronger, to give us strengthen for the next time around.

Have you ever met a new soul? I believe I have. They are a little oblivious and some of them are so curious and can not settle down, as if they want to take everything in and are afraid of missing out on something.

You may think I am crazy but think back. Most of us have been here before, some of us will be back, but what is most important is finding out why we are here and how we can make our journey one that we'll remember and never want to forget.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

To all the wonderful dad's out there I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day. Yes, mom's are the backbone of the family, but the father's are the protectors, we need them as much as they need us. Everyone loves, appreciates and respects a good man! Happy Father's Day to all the Good Men out there!

Enjoying My 30's

It's funny when my birthday was approaching last month I was a little bummed about being 30, now a month into it I am loving it! All my life I looked young and yes I still look young but I finally feel like an adult. I know it's hard for some people to relate but now being 30 I feel people take me more serious, I am officially an adult, I am comfortable in my skin and happy. I am finally a woman.

I feel my life is heading in the direction I want it to, I am happy with who I am, what I can be and what it takes to get what I want. Life is good and I am hoping it only gets better!

"I remember the day I turned thirty. I was getting out of the shower and I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself for a long time. I examined every inch of my body and appreciated the fact that I finally looked like a grown woman. I also assumed that this was how I was going to look for the rest of my life. The way I saw it, I was never going to age; I'd just look up one day and be old. "~ Terry MacMillan

MOMMY QUOTE

All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown

Grow Old With You

I will be married for 6 years this summer and have been lucky enough to have been with my husband for 12 years. Today I had a doctors apt and there was an elderly couple sitting next to one another. The wife went to check in and she had trouble standing. Her husband got up and took her purse and asked if she was alright. She took a seat next to him and he looked at her with great concern. At that very moment it hit me that the man I am married to is the man I want to grow old with.


And yes, when you get married you vow to but has it ever REALLY hit you that the person you are with is the one you want to grow old with? The one you want to have hold your hand when you can hardly walk and speak for you when you no longer have the energy to? Think about it! The satisfaction of knowing I truly want to grow old with my husband brought tears to my eyes.

Yes, there may be men out there that may perhaps be good for me, no one knows but the fact of knowing that I look forward to growing old with my husband puts a smile on my face. One day that old couple could be-will be us, and it made me realize how lucky and truly blessed I am!

Bakeries and Balloons

Have you ever gone to a bakery to pick up a cake and then had to drive across town to pick up balloons? Why can't they just combine the two?! I think all Bakeries should sell balloons!

On-Call Copay

I was shocked when my husband came home from my daughter's doctor’s appointment to notify me that they charged us $15 for calling off hours and speaking with the on call nurse.

My daughter fell a month ago and I called the doctor's office for suggestions on what to look for. The answering service said they were not open yet so she had the on-call nurse contact me. Later that day we brought my daughter in for a check up just to be sure she was ok-which she was.
Never was it ever brought to our attention or mentioned about being a fee to use their answering service. I even called my insurance company that advised me that this was not correct and they should send the claim into them so they would investigate it. Of course the billing department in the doctor's office refused to. They waived my fee after they could feel the fire steaming out of me. But why on earth would anyone charge a patient for something like this? So going forward if there is an emergency and the doctor's office is closed and I speak to the on-call doctor I have to pay for it? What has gotten into these medical practices? No where have I ever read this. I am appalled at them to the point that I was contemplating getting my daughter's records transferred to pediatrics’ practice.
It has come to a point that our medical doctors are money makers. What happened to the days that they actually really cared about the people they were providing care to? I have 5 years experience in the Medical field and am shocked at how that Pediatrics’ office is run. I am also disappointed that the people I put my trust into to care for my daughter is only concerned about the money they are receiving for her care!

Mommy the Energizer Bunny

I must say everyday I am amazed with how much I do. I appreciate all my husband does but I think we all need to give some appreciation to all the mommies out there. It is a tough job, yes rewarding but tough. I am up by 6-6:30 every morning and not in bed before 10:30-11. I go none stop in between. Yes I LOVE IT! I would not trade it for the world, but where the hell did I get all this energy from?!

I remember prior to having my daughter it was hard climbing out of bed at 7-7:30 and no one could call me after 9:30 because I was in bed. Those were the easy days. Now any free time I have I am working, cooking, cleaning, shopping etc...

Yes, it is exhausting but I feel good, I feel younger, healthier. Maybe it is the gym, maybe it's because I am happy, nahh I think being a mommy gives me no choice but to feel like an Energizer Bunny! I need 17 hr days to accomplish all I need to accomplish and yet I go to bed with a to do list for the next day. So for all of you out there next time you see your momma, or go there for dinner or see her cleaning stop to thank her because when you're resting at the end of your day, her day is just getting started!

Easy Dishes to Take Along This Weekend

Invited to a picnic and not sure what to bring? Don't feel like cooking? Well check out these easy crowd pleasers!

• Ice Cream Sandwiches: Pick up a container of vanilla ice cream or any ice cream and a dozen baked chocolate chip cookies (Stew's is my favorite) and make your own ice cream sandwiches. Scope a spoonful of ice cream in the center of two cookies and roll it in sprinkles YUM- who wouldn't like that!
• Chips and Dip: Bring a bag of tortilla chips- blue chips are my favorite- with a mexican layer dip you picked up at the store. Great as an app or side dish!
• Sangria: Get a gallon of merlot ($10 at most stores) a 1/2 gallon of gingerale, a tablespoon of sugar, and a two shots of any fruit flavored liqour you have in your cabinet. Combine and chop any fruit you have in the fridge; I use lemons, oranges, apples, grapes etc.. Chill and serve! (Cut everything in half if only using a half gallon of merlot)

See being a guest should never be as stressful as being the host! Enjoy!!

HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Every weekend should be a 3 Day weekend!!

Music Soothes the Soul

I love music. I love to hear music when I am happy, sad, tired or mad. I love music so much that ever since my daughter was born I sang to her. No, I am no American Idol but I did notice early on that Music Soothes the Soul and babies, and children love it too!

I began singing to my daughter as a form of distraction for when she was scared, when I gave her a bath or changed her diaper. Til this day I still sing to her as a distraction and she loves it. I even began coming up with  my own lyrics to encourage her to brush her teeth; brush brush brush your teeth, brush them every day, brush them top to bottom to keep the dentist away. When I brush her hair I sing; brush brush brush your hair, brush it every day, brush them every day to take the knots all away. I know I am a very silly mom but TRUST ME it works!

Deal Finder

Walgreens: Buy two Huggies Jumbo Pack for $18 and receive a $3.00 reward

Donate to Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County

I read an article today that the Food Bank was low and looking for donations.

Did you know:

$300 - can provide three weeks of food to 14 children staying at a homeless shelter.


$150 - can provide four weeks of food for a family of four.

$125 - can provide 250 people with a bowl of hot chicken soup and a sandwich at a soup kitchen.

$75 - can provide school lunch for one child for two months.

$20 - can supply soup kitchens with vegetables for a week.
 
Donate today!

Tip on How to Prevent a Mess

You know when you are pouring soup or sauce in a container and it splatters everywhere. WELL...try putting a spoon in the container first and you will be amazed that it prevents this mess. I know what you are thinking... silly tip... but try it! I did by accident and it worked- my spoon fell out of the pot when I was pouring the soup in a container and I left it there, it prevented everything from splattering all over my counter. Amazing, I know!

My 100th Post

WOW I reached my 100th post tonight. So great to read through them all and see when I started my daughter was 9 months and now she's 18 months. I hope you enjoyed the last 100 and stick around for the next 100. Thanks for the follow!!

Thank You and Cheers!!

Greek Yogurt-YUM!

Today I found out how amazing Chobani greek yogurt is. Try vanilla with a tablespoon of honey. OH MY! 16 grams of protein in 6 oz container. Yes it is about 180 calories but so filling I could not finish the whole thing. Healthier than a bowl of ice cream. Which is what I was going to have tonight so I am happy I chose the yogurt!

What I learned about Children and Lotion

Whenever you apply a new lotion on a baby or child put a little on their leg to test if their skin gets a reaction before applying all over them.

Terrible 2's

I thought I had a couple more months before I would have to deal with the terrible 2's. See my daughter will turn 18 months next week so I figured her attitude was a result of teething. Well, her attitude has been around for the past week and a half.

She literary screams when she is unhappy, wants to get down from her high chair or while I am driving and she is trying to get out of her car seat. She refuses to eat, whines, and is very agressive, demanding and moody. At first I came up with a ton of excuses to defend my little angel, well now it has come to the point that she is no angel!

I am coping with this string of moodiness, tantrums, anger, crying and whining with compassion as if it is a child form of menopause. Hot flashes, sweats, mood swings... see the connection?!

Today I learned about Bread Crumbs

When making fish top with bread crumbs to substitute for salt. Yum!

Enjoy Life

Enjoy Life

It's Too Short Not to!

What I learned Today About Tuna

If you rinse canned tuna in water after you have already drained it you will lower the salt and sodium in it and it will not affect the taste at all. Give it a try!

The Power of Prayer

I want to begin this posting by saying I am not trying to preach any particular religion. I am writing based on my own experience and respect people's choices to believe in what they choose to believe in.


The Power of Prayer is like no other. I know when ever things are tough, or when I am sad or even happy I like to turn to the Power of Prayer. We all have different beliefs and I do not care what it is you believe in as long as you have a source to pray to and the reason I say this is because it gives us an unspoken feeling of hope when we feel like there isn't hope. Yes, there are scientific explanations to a lot of things but when we have hope things seem to become easier.

When I was trying to get pregnant a woman came into my husband’s job and said for us to pray, pray a list of prayers and your wife will get pregnant. Yes, granted there were other things we had to do to get pregnant but the list of prayers gave us hope and it helped make the lengthen process easier. Hope helped.
Whenever a family member goes into a surgery I always find myself praying. Yes, the doctors are the ones I need to have faith in, but prayer gives me hope. It gives me a sense of comfort that everything will be alright and if it is not alright then we will get through it.

So whatever you choose to believe in or choose to put your faith into. Remember there is hope. And hope is nothing someone can take away from you unless you let them. Let hope comfort you and be there in your time of need.

Fitness Update

I am proud to say that it has been a month this week since I joined the gym and I am still going strong. YEAH!! I started out with 5x a week, last week I was bad and went 2x but walked 2x and this week has been 3x so far. I plan going at least 1 more time since I have a 3 mile Breast Cancer walk on Saturday morning.

I do use the scale but decided to measure myself to really see results. After 4 weeks I am proud to say:

-I lost 1/2 inch on my neck, arms and chest (not that my chest needed any loosing, ha,ha)
-1 1/2 inch from my thighs

I am one happy girl! I would love to loose most of the inches in my waist since that is my problem area but that too shall happen!

My biological clock is ticking and my husband and I want to have another baby so it is sooo important for me to loose these last 10lbs that wont go away from having my daughter. I know we all say that having a baby ruins our body but the reality is I let having a baby ruin my body and I can not let that happen again.

 The gym as been AWESOME for me as a stress releaser with work and other things. Once I am there I can stay there all day. Try it, I know it is hard to get to, really my schedule is so jammed pack that fitting in the gym didn't seem like something I could do. But now that I am doing it is it AMAZING! I go at night after dinner and watch my shows and sweat my butt off. I even did 2 miles in 18 minutes. I burn about 400+ calories in a 35-40 mins work out. It is great. So wish me luck, I am not giving up and neither should you!

Today I learned about Soup

Try eating a bowl of soup before every meal to help feel full faster. Make sure the soup you pick is not creammy or high in calories. It is a wonderful comfort food too!! I just did and could not finish my lunch. YUM!

Today I Learned about Generics

My daughter woke up with a fever and since the lastes recall I had nothing to give her. So I turned to the internet and googled Generic brands. I went out and bought a generic type of acetaminophen to give her. Generic it is until they straigthen out this recall!

Learn Something New Everyday

They say we learn something new everyday. So I decided to put test that theory. Please feel free to leave me a comment to let me know what you have learned today. Learning makes our brains stronger and our body healthier.

Today I learned:

That SugarCRM is a great tool for Small to Medium Sized Businesses. I am currently learning it for a new client so we have a email based software where we both can view leads, calendars, contact information etc... It is only $360 a yr for their Professional package. It is very similiar to Salesforce.

Enjoy the knowledge :)

My Life

I am at this stage in my life that I need to stop doing what other's want me to do. I need to regain a little contol over my life and do what makes me happy. Most of my friends are not married and do not have a family so it is hard for them to imagine that staying home or having a quiet dinner would make them happy. I am kindof over the party scene, the night life, the $300 dinners and bar tabs. I am happy working part time and gaining a paycheck big enough to feel I am contributing to my household, grabbing a pizza for dinner and spending time with my husband and child on the weekends.

I am over the material things, fancy cars and name brand clothes. I feel at this point in my life I have all I want, all I need, anything extra is not neccessary. It's hard to be the one in the group to feel these way because you may come across cheap or insensitive. And it's not that, it's that a lot of the time we do these things to fill a void we have and right now I don't have that void. If I could stay this way forever I would be happy. I love my house, my daughter, my husband. I am not giving up or saying an occasional treat is not nice, but I feel like I am always on the go, always trying to please someone, always dishing our money and not really enjoying myself.

I can not image that everyone could understand where I am coming from, but I can assume I am not alone. I am a wife, a mom, a worker, I have responsibilties and staying out until 2:00 am to wake up the next day and perform my responsibilites are not feasable anymore. I just can't do it and I feel it should be ok to not want to do it. I am putting a stop to what other's want from me and doing what I want. I apologize if anything gets offended but at the end of the day it is me who needs to be happy, as for yourself to all of those who do what I do.

Do what makes you happy in life because in the end that is what really matters!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

I am so blessed to be a Mommy. I hope all you mommies enjoyed your day today. Below are some quotes that say it all. God Bless Every Mommy Out There!


*A mother understands what a child does not say. ~Author Unknown

*She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along. ~Margaret Culkin Banning

*When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

Communication-The Key to a Good Marriage

I will be the first to admit that my husband and I argue. Sometimes we argue over the simplest things, sometimes we are argue over things not worth arguing over. But this open line of communication we have works for us and actually makes our marriage good.

I am old enough to have seen many marriages fail and fall apart and the number one reason COMMUNICATION. Yep, lack of communication has ended many relationships. Why is it that we feel we shouldn't be able to say what we feel, or tell someone when they did something wrong or hurt us. Your partner may not agree and the fight may last a little longer but isn't it worth discussing. I have said plenty of hurtful things to my husband during arguments which were wrong, but at least we opened up to another and built this relationship based around an open communication system. Say sorry when you do something wrong, discuss an issue at the time it is bothering you!

Why do we bottle up what bothers us, why do we look towards a third person to make something better for our relationship instead of turning to our mates? Fighting is good, but it has to be within means. No physical, verbal or mental abuse is necessary. But telling your partner when something is bothering you is important. It is the only way they will know it and by discussing it you are allowing a solution to be formed.
We have one life, and it is too short to have anger built inside of us. Yes, no one likes telling someone the truth about how they really feel if they think it will hurt someone, but it is worse to keep things bottled up inside. You can work through the hurt with a loved one, but keeping it in will only make things worse!

Communication is key to a marriage, it is so important and should not be dismissed. I always think of John Mayer’s song; Say What You Need to Say, my favorite line is:

“It’s better to say too much, Than to never say what you need to say again.”

Support Stamp Out Hunger

Saturday is Stamp Out Hunger day. Your mail carrier will be collecting

non-perishable goods. Just leave your

 donations at your mailbox!