Updated blog roll

It’s been quite some time since I’ve had my blog roll in the sidebar of the blog. After receiving several requests for link exchanges I’ve finally updated it by moving it from an individual blog post with a link to an actual list in the sidebar.

You can see the new one (My Blog Roll) in the sidebar – it’s under “I Belong” and “Sites I Love.” Over the next week or so I’ll be updating it some more because I’ve noticed there are some blogs that haven’t been updated in quite awhile. I’ll also be making requests from some of you for link exchanges… I’ll keep most of the widgets under “Sites I Love,” but need to make better use of my blog links.

If you’d like to exchange links, want yours removed or have changes then be sure to leave me a little comment. Thanks for visiting It’s a woman’s world! :-)

I’m a runaway

Lin, a good bloggy friend of mine, always has a joke about running away from home. Since the first time we mentioned this she and I have talked about being hobos. On Saturday night - quite abruptly - I packed up a few things, jumped in my van and drove about 90 minutes to my best friend’s home. Luckily we have an open-door policy for each other, but he immediately knew something was wrong when I showed up at his job to get keys.

I guess the reasons for my leaving are not important, but I’m glad I did. The part I hate? Having to get back in my van and drive home. Not only are there a bunch of domestic chores that need to be handled, but I’m walking back into what I believe caused me to leave: there’s no one there.

Now I must explain that the cause and reasons are two different things… I’m happy for my brief reprieve from the sounds that reverberate in my head, but I must go home to greet my children in the morning when they return from their weekend with dad and get my house in order. In the process, I’m getting my mind and life together – again. I know it’s all so cryptic. It normally happens that way when I hold so much inside for so long.

Although I still haven’t been sleeping well because of stress and mental anguish, I am confident that I can get back on track. I’m still waiting for Lin to give me the signal for that long train-traveling, marshmallow-roasting, kerchief- and daisy duke-wearing, hobo trip, but – in the meantime – you’ll find me here being mom and blogger.

KinderCare Summer Camp filled with fun

Summer is well underway and my children are extremely excited to have fun and freedom at their fingertips. For my oldest daughter that means a break from college courses and for my other three that means no getting up early, doing homework and the privilege to stay up late.

My two middle children, ages 6 and 7, are spending a couple of weeks at home before the summer camp in our complex begins at the beginning of June. About once a week my son may get the chance to take drum lessons with his best friend. And 4-year-old Anna, my sweet girl who just celebrated her birthday, will spend a lot of time with me, possibly do a little gymnastics or dance and get to enjoy a week at our local KinderCare’s Summer Camp.

KinderCare has 12 uniquely-themed, week-long summer programs that are filled with the fun of traditional camp with learning and adventure for children from pre-school to school age. This is a great program and experience for children because it’s filled with fun and education. The camp themes are Dig Ancient Egypt, Scienterrific, Spectacular Sports, Animal Antics, Gross and Gooey Science, Kids' Kitchen, Sports Smarts, Art Expo, Splish Splash!, Feats of Science™ - KNEX® Motion Machines and Wild, Wild West. That sounds like so much fun that I wouldn’t mind participating!

I’m having a tough time deciding what Anna will do during her week at KinderCare, which she’ll receive because I participated in this blog posting campaign through MomSelect. Although I know she’s crazy about animals and would love Animal Antics, she also likes to dig in the dirt, cook and draw. More than likely I’ll see what the KinderCare director at my nearest location (you can find yours here by entering your zip code) suggests and match that to what little Anna says. Check back in about six weeks or so and I’ll have an update on how Anna’s week at KinderCare was.

If you haven’t already decided what your children are doing this summer then check out KinderCare’s Summer Camp website to find the center closest to you and read more about the individual camp themes. You can also check them out on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Recently, KinderCare asked a thousand U.S. parents about plans for their preschooler’s summer. Day camps earned the top rank on must-do lists and mostly everyone agreed that they want their children’s bodies and minds to remain active. Below are a few of the results from the 2011 survey:

Before you go, take a moment to comment and tell me your summer plans or your favorite summertime memory. Have a safe and beautiful summer.

Disclosure: This post was written as a participant in a blog campaign from MomSelect and KinderCare Learning Centers. No monetary compensation was received, but as a participant one of my children will enjoy a free week at a local KinderCare during their summer camp program. That arrangement did not effect my opinion; any opinions expressed here are my own. For more information review my complete policy.

My baby is officially 4 years old

Those who know me fairly well will tell you I’m not the teary-eyed mom who yearns for her children to be babies forever. But they will tell you that I acknowledge the milestones, smile at the moments and appreciate the opportunity blessing that it is to raise children.

Today, it finally dawned on me that I’m guilty of treating my baby like the baby. I normally don’t fall for those titles and sometimes special-treatment situations that get every parent in trouble as their children get older. But, right now, there’s no mistaking the specialness that Anna harbors in being the baby of the family. She’s a petite, spoiled, feisty little person with attitude and moods, but she is the cutest little doll and the most cuddly 4 year old that I know.

Four years ago she was born under less than ideal circumstances. I had been separated from her father for about three or four weeks, and she came five weeks early. It was the beginning of the end of my marriage, the beginning of her life and a new unwritten chapter in my life’s book. So as I celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event, the day my youngest baby and my youngest daughter was born, I remember everything that I’ve been through in the past four years.

How amazing it is to see that even amidst all the negativity and insanity of my day-to-day living, I’ve still managed to nurture and love one of the most fantastically fabulous children in my life. Happy Birthday sweet Anna – you’ll always be my little ladybug.

Today, I had a small family (my children, myself and my close friends/neighbors) gathering to highlight the occasion and earlier this month Anna had a party with all of her friends (and those of her siblings) in attendance. I posted a few pictures and photos on different occasions; check them out when you get a chance.

Where’s my bucket list?

About six or seven years ago I began writing my bucket list about the same time the movie, of the same name, came out. I thought, “What a great idea!” (I’m sure a lot of people thought the same thing.) Since then I’ve lost track of the list. I think I wrote it in one of my many journals or notebooks. I’ve looked through all of the current ones and haven’t come across it. The only other place there is to look is in a giant blue storage bin that holds memories, journals and diaries that I’ve kept since about 1978. Yup, you read that correctly. I began keeping a diary when I was about 10 years old and my brother gave me one for my birthday.

The reason I’m looking for my bucket list is because I have a renewed hope of doing the things that I’ve listed. That hope came to light over the past week or so. When I found out my neighbor, music producer Jay Dunning aka ICE, was involved and starring in Nina, an independent film, I was really excited. How cool and exciting for someone I know to be involved in something like that. Then to know that as their friend I could watch the filming or just experience it so closely.

Imagine my surprise when I was asked to play a small role – thanks to Jerry’s wife, Melissa (yes, they are my neighbors!)! It was hard work (all the waiting is the worse), but it was a fabulously fun and priceless experience. To top it all off I had the chance to be a stage mom because Anna has a small role in it as well. The production crew, the actors and the musicians (some are one in the same) were all fabulous fun to work with.

I’ll write another post about the movie eventually when I get all of the pictures together and have more details. I am the most uninformed stage mom/actress ever!

So, I was looking for my bucket list so I can cross that off of my list. Yup, it’s been one of my dreams to have a part in a movie. Score! I have renewed hope for doing things on my bucket list, and that’s such an exciting feeling. I’ll post about my bucket list again when I find it.

Do you have a bucket list? What are some things you’ve always wanted to do?

Visions of glass

Lately I’ve been watching some of the HGTV shows that feature individuals who purchase homes, remodel them and put them back on the market. My favorite part of those shows is when the do the decorating. I like seeing what they choose – like the bathroom tiles, backsplashes in the kitchen, faucets, etc.

There was a husband, in a show I can’t remember the name of, who designed such a fabulous bathroom. There were his and her black, square sinks with beautiful tile through the bathroom and shower along with a sauna/spa-like tub. I absolutely love what he did and his wife was extremely pleased too. As with every design show I’ve watched, I couldn’t keep myself from picturing the beautiful bathroom with a Glass Sink.

If I ever buy another home I will definitely want one that I can personalize with all the amenities that I’ve ever dreamed of. That definitely includes Glass Sinks.

Busy week of transitions

This week, from bright and early Monday morning until now, has gone nothing like I thought it would or as planned. I’m so anxious for Friday night just because then I will know school is over for the summer, I’ll be able to sleep later some  morning and things will hopefully take on a more relaxed pace.

Let’s review what’s happened so far:

Monday’s plan was to sleep late, finish up a little housework, get all of my Monday work completed (because I had the entire week’s worth of work scheduled out) and end the day with everyone going to bed on time. That didn’t  happen. The children’s father dropped Anna off (without warning or notice) in the morning because he said she shouldn’t go to school because she was sick. Now, regardless of what I have scheduled or planned, when a child gets sick on my time then I will cancel and/or rearrange what I have to do. You know, the sacrifice that mothers always make. I don’t understand why he can’t be the total parent when the children are in his care. An-t-way, luckily I didn’t have a doctor’s appointment because that’s one of the things I schedule every other Monday. I didn’t get any work completed and because I had went to bed so late because I was expecting to sleep a little late, I wasn’t very productive. At all.

On Tuesday Anna stays home sick again, but that morning Amareah had her awards ceremony so  my neighbor and I – along with Anna – attended that. After the ceremony the children – the rising FIRST GRADERS! WOW! – were allowed to leave for the day. My exhaustion for the day before trickled over into Tuesday and, again, I wasn’t as productive but I did accomplish some work. Now my to-do list is officially off kilter.

Today my son had his awards ceremony. (Yes, Andre and Amareah attend the same school.) My neighbor, her husband and her daughter went as well because their son is in the same grade as mine. We attended the ceremony and laughed nearly the entire time especially after the dishwasher (we were in the cafeteria) had a malfunction and water poured from a back room right to where we were sitting. It was actually a tidal wave – give or take! By the time the ceremony is over and we get the boys checked out of school my energy is petering out. Oh, I didn’t mention that my plans to go to bed early were severely altered by an event that I’m not at liberty to discuss. Let’s just say: just when you think it’s safe to go back in the water… here comes another shark!

I’m so far off of my schedule that I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing this afternoon (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday), for that matter. However, I do know that I (along with my neighbor. Woohoo!) will be going to Anna’s international day on Friday. At the end of each year, the head start ends with International Day and each class chooses a country to represent. Last year (or was it the year before?) Amareah’s class represented China. I can’t remember what country Andre’s class did two years ago so take a look at that post and see if you can tell me.

And that, dear friends, is my busy week of transitions.

On the happy (nostalgic) side of things all of my babies are moving up and on. Congratulations Amber as you enter your junior year of college, congrats Andre and Amareah for passing to go to the next grades and congratulations baby Anna as you move on to public school pre-k.

I love my babies!

Keep your tween or teen from fretting the sweat

Nowadays kids are entering puberty and experiencing biological changes like producing body odor earlier than they have in years past. I’ve even noticed that in one of my children who – compared to my oldest daughter – already needs deodorant at the prepubescent stage. In fact, there is research* that solidifies that point. Unilever doesn’t want those kids to “fret the seat” so they’re offering a variety of products that can help tweens and teens to stay cool, calm, comfortable and confident all day long.

Like “Don’t fret the sweat” on Facebook to find out more information.

*Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, Eric J. Slora, Richard C. Wasserman, Carlos J. Bourdony, Manju V. Bhapkar, Gary G. Koch, and Cynthia M. Hasemeier. Secondary Sexual Characteristics and Menses in Young Girls Seen in Office Practice: A Study from the Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network; Pediatrics, Apr 1997; 99: 505 - 512. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (2001, September 18). Research: U.S. Boys Also Reaching Puberty Earlier Than In Past.

Disclosure: I’m posting this as a  participant in a One2One Network posting campaign to be eligible to win cool prices. Any opinions expressed here are my own. For more information review my complete policy.

Get ready for movie night

One of my favorite things to do is rent movies, and I really enjoy a good movie in the comfort of my own home – especially when laying in my bed. It’s the perfect weekend treat. You can get a free rental from Redbox if you click my link, and I’ll get a free rental too!

Go ahead, click right now and get ready for a movie night.

What questions do you have about relationships?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TwoOfUs for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Most of us who have been in relationships or who are still in relationships know that maintaining them can be a little hard work. What do we do when we have questions about our relationships, which we don't want to ask our friends and family? There's one place that I've visited that has all sorts of tips on keeping your relationship fresh.

At TwoOfUs.org you'll find information on the various stages of relationships including dating, engaged and marriage. There is even relationship advice for parents and those who are in an exclusive dating relationship. Visitors to the site can read the numerous articles, take quizzes to understand themselves and the relationship they're in as well as watch relevant videos including one featuring CSI: NY actor and author Hill Harper. In the video Harper shares information about Conversation Parties, which involve inviting a group of people - both men and women - who come together and address relationship questions that the party goers have.

Harper explains that we don't often get the time to have true conversations because we're so busy in the virtual world, but coming together as a group and in person can help build better relationships. Especially when it comes to get others' perspectives. The idea of a conversation party appeals to me because when there are relationship issues I'd like to discuss or questions I have about the opposite sex I normally turn to my friends for answers.

What questions do you have about relationships? Is there a common question that you haven't gotten answers to? Share your questions in the comment section. Also, when you're finished here, take a moment to like twoofos.org on Facebook.

Pictures from the party

Last week I gave you a little peek at the party I had for my three young children. Here are the other pictures I promised:

The boys played outside for most of the time. Here’s Andre (center) with his best friend who lives next door. The little guy is actually Anna’s guest (her “boyfriend,” she says, from school)  for the birthday party but during the tea party he gets to hang out with the big boys.

The girls took their seats to get ready for their tea party. The began enjoying the cupcakes (in various sizes and flavors) while they waited for the tea.

We talked about the different types of tea pots, cups and even how different cultures enjoy tea. I also allowed them to taste the tea at different stages. They tasted it black and nothing in it. No one liked it that way! They all tasted it with just one scoop of sugar and thought it wasn’t sweet enough. Then they all tasted it with two scoops and determined it was best that way. One little girl only wants sugar in hers and the rest of the young ladies want theirs with two scoops of sugar and a fair amount of cream.

Oh, we also discovered that most of the girls had never had hot tea before and we also talked about proper etiquette. They haven’t quite mastered keeping napkins on their laps. LOL…

We didn’t spend much time talking about it and I ended by saying, “Now you know how you like your tea prepared.” And I reviewed what everyone liked. It was fun seeing their faces when I said that. It was a, ‘Yea, I know how I like tea!”

Everyone enjoyed the fruit, veggies and snacks, which were very yummy!

 

Even our littlest princess got a crown and everyone of the big kids went home with treat bags specifically made for boys and girls!

 

I think we captured most of the gang here although I don’t see a couple of our smaller guests!

  

Here’s Amareah (on the left) with her BFF from next door. Aren’t they beautiful?

More pictures in the album below.

View Full Album

And, finally, here are Anna’s birthday pictures:

    Anna picked out her cake – she loves the confetti!

I love the look on her face as she glances at me when everyone is singing happy birthday. It’s funny that she loves attention, but when the focus is all on her she gets bashful. :-)

  When they were finished singing happy birthday, I sang the part of “I’m four years old” and added “almost” at the end of every verse. Everyone thought this was cute especially since I raised Anna’s hand every time she I said almost.

  

All the kids enjoyed Anna opening her gifts. And, since I know my children, I always confiscate new toys because after the party is over they want to open and play with them alone.

  

One final hug to Anna’s little friend.

  

And we my neighbor could not leave the tea party hostess out of the gift-giving fun. Amareah received her own little porcelain tea set.

  

Oh… and we can’t forget the hostess. Me. Against my wishes my neighbor insisted on getting a picture of me. BTW: Thanks Melissa for taking all of the pictures. These moments would not be captured if it weren’t for you.

And because I couldn’t resist when I saw it, here’s a picture of Anna two years ago! Aahhhh!

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

Victory for store brand baby formula

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of storebrandformula.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recently, store brand infant formulas won a victory when a United States Circuit Court upheld a $13.5 million false advertising claim against Enfamil maker Mead Johnson. The store brand infant formula business argued that Enfamil's advertisements claiming superiority to store brand formulas is false and misleading. When, in fact, it was found that the store brand formulas have the same nutrients at the same levels as Enfamil. For some this isn't surprising because of other comparisons between national and store brands.

The Enfamil company had been previously restrained two times because of communicating and releasing misleading advertising, but they continued to do so even after the warning. The store formula company proved that they cannot compete in the marketplace against Mead Johnson unless the negative advertising was discontinued. The court determined that both the national and store brand suppliers should have equal opportunities to compete fairly in the marketplace without tainted marketing and advertisements.

Have you ever seen the Mead Johnson advertisements that are referred to in this case? If so, did they influence your infant formula purchases? Take a moment to share your experiences in the comments.

To find out more information click on the link .

Keep untrained employees away from customer service

During the course of my marriage (that links to some previous posts I’ve written about marriage – some personal, some not) I allowed certain things to be done in the financial arena that really f-ed me up. And, unfortunately, I’ve found out that this has happened to a lot of women. Majority women, actually – there has only been one man who has said he experienced something similar. Over the past four years I’ve been trying to clean that up and get back to the good financial standing I had about 10 years ago.

I tell you all of that so you’ll understand why I had to go to Walmart to cash a check. Several checks really. This is the first time I’ve used this money service and was pleased when I found out they charge a flat fee instead of a percentage and will cash government or payroll checks up to $5,000. Cool, right?

Not for long.

I shuffle my under-the-weather self (headache, sore throat, body aches and cough) to my local Walmart, stand in line for about 15 minutes and happily hand my check to the employee who begins the transactions. She processes two small checks and proceeds to do the other two, which get rejected.

The system spits out a small sheet that instructs you to call a toll free number for information. It’s the stupidest system I’ve ever heard or seen because the automation doesn’t tell you anymore than what you found out from the sheet of paper and the employee. Below is what happened and exactly what I sent to the store and corporate regarding the situation:

I went to the Money Center at the Walmart in Stockbridge, Georgia for the first time today. I've never used this service and was pleased that I finally found somewhere that would cash my tax return for a flat fee. I approached the counter and gave the employee, Salisha, four government checks. She took all four and began the transactions. The last two, one of which was more than $3,000, did not go through and she gave me the slip to call the automated line and that did not offer any additional information or solution. I walked back up to the counter and asked the other lady what should I do and as soon as she found out I had four checks she told me I can only cash two per week. I said, "Why didn't she tell me that because then I could have told her which ones to cash." Because of the employees lack of training and knowledge I am not able to take care of my financial responsibilities that I have to handle today. I told the manager in front of Salisha that she needs to be better trained because she should have told me I couldn't cash more than two checks. The manager apologized and Salisha's response was that she didn't know the checks were for smaller amounts. That is totally not the point. As soon as I handed her those checks she should have said, 'I'm sorry we can only cash two checks for you today. It's a policy of two per week.’ There would have been no problems with that because I would have just came back next week with the smaller checks. This is a total lack of real customer service and poor training. There shouldn't be anyone at the Money counter that doesn't know all of the rules. Because of her lack of knowledge she has messed up my financial situation and no one is going to take responsibility for that. No one loses out but me. I am extremely disappointed by this and will be passing along this information to others to hopefully save them from being in such a terrible situation. Totally unacceptable.

Can you tell I’m annoyed?

I swear that saying is true about people not using the good sense that God gave them. I guess this is one of the reasons some people have little regard for Walmart. It’s actually one of my favorite stores; however, I can’t wait ‘til my situation improves and I don’t have to deal with anything like that ever again.

Get your kids in on the action

The makers of ZhuZhu Pets® has done it again: They’ve recently released DaGeDar™ launched in Phoenix. Pronounced DAH-geh-DAAR, this game is supercharged battle balls that encourage strategy and skill in a collectible racing game that lets kids set the rules. Whew! Sounds noisy to  me! LOL… Not the game, but the kids as they play the game. I was curious so I checked out the commercial that MomSelect shared. You just have to see it for yourself.

 

Looks like fun, huh?

Disclosure: I’m sharing this with you for a chance to win the complete DaGeDar™ line before it’s released nationwide. Any opinions expressed here are my own. For more information review my complete policy.

Peek at the party

This past Saturday I had a party for three of my children. I’d been promising Amareah a tea party since January and Anna was expecting a birthday party (her big 4-year-old day is at the end of the month) and, of course, I couldn’t leave out Andre so he had his two best friends to play with. That was about 14 to 16 kids in and around the house along with a few parents. Although the preparations almost caused me to pull my hair out and the noise was over the top; the kids had a ball. Not one complaint or disappointment among my three. Now I would call that a success.

Here are a few pictures I took before my camera died. (Yup, really died!) I’ll share some more at a later date when I get them from my friend/neighbor.

Here’s Amareah (in the back on the right) with her classmate from school and Anna. There were only princesses at the tea party and the hostess and guest of honor wore crowns adorned with features. They all looked so cute.

Although I didn’t get to put up all the decorations I wanted to, I did get a chance to hang up paper lanterns (Are they considered lanterns if they aren’t any lights? LOL) and “crystals.”

 

My young princess, and the baby of the family, is almost 4 years old. You see the noise maker she’s holding? Well, when all the children got their hands on one, the first thing my neighbor said was, “What were we thinking?”

Don’t forget to check back for more pictures from this fun – and loud! – day. :-)