Back to life essentials

As a kid I always liked this time of the year, the excitement of going back to school. New beginnings, seeing my friends again and of course back to school shopping! Whether shopping for clothes or school supplies it gave me a rush! Maybe that's the shopaholic in me ;-)

Now as a mom I still feel the same rush for my boys, actually I maybe more excited than they are LOL

Having two young and active school aged boy, it really does take a village! I not only count on their father but also my fellow mom friends. You have school pickup & drop-off and sports practice [baseball, football, basketball - depending the time of the year]. This is just a small list of items that help me stay on top of everything. 

A good tote bag is key, I got this Rebecca Minkoff tote bag on sale in black & natural colors and couldn't be happier. I use it to go to the beach, grocery shopping or just running around. It's big enough to hold all my stuff. I also am a bit old school and carry around a planner and/or notepad, something about writing things down that makes them seem more real. On the flip side I am always on my phone checking emails, sending texts, so naturally I carry a battery charger. These portable charging stations are great when you're out & about without access to an outlet. A great pair of sunnies are great for hiding tired eyes, loving these Karen Walker sunglasses. Staying hydrated is a must, I like to carry a water bottle with me, this water bottle w/infuser is great, just add some lemon slices (or fruit), add water and go. It's that simple. Chuck Taylor's are classic kicks, they never go out of style and are so comfy; perfect for running to the ballpark after work. A good (and stylish) watch is always a good idea, glad I was able to pick up this Michael Kors 'Cooper' watch - on sale! I can be a bit of a germaphobe and always carry hand sanitizer. I really like these from Bath & Body Works, not only do they smell amazing but they're only $5.00 for a pack of five! One for each handbag, you can't beat that!

As we say goodbye to summer fun and leisure, and say hello to the madness of school, after school activities and all that jazz; just remember to breathe and take it one day at a time.

xx, B 

Snow day!

To continue talking about lounging in your pjs LOL, what kid doesn't love a snow day?! Heck, even I love them; it gives us an opportunity to spend a week day at home. We sleep in late, drink hot chocolate, watch movies and I make chicken soup. If I'm lucky I can sneak in a little work from home (yeah, right!). And if there is a lot of snow accumulation we go outside and have a snowball fight or two, we attempt to make a snowman, we make snow angels and sledding! #Funtimes 

Like my boys (9 & 5) I too longed for snow days as a child, my sisters and I would stay home with my mom, while dad went to work. We would fight, get on each other's  and my mom's last nerve LOL (somethings never change).


What do you do on a snow day?

xo | B

Don't stress..

With Christmas just ten days away, it's hard not to stress out! I'm happy to report that my list is 90% done, woo hoo! Here are some tips to help you get through the madness of holiday shopping.

1. Start early - It's never too early to start shopping for the holidays; set aside a space in you closet, attic, garage, etc. so when you find something that your family will love you can stash it there until you are ready to swap gifts.

2. Shop online - Shopping online can be fun, it's easy and quick; the best part is that you get to avoid all the madness in the stores. You can even have the gifts wrapped (for a small fee and it's a time saver); make sure you allow enough time for shipping.

3. Make a budget and stick to it - It's easy to over spend during the holidays; if you are afraid you will over spend, make a budget and stick to it! You can make a list to get a general idea of how much you will be spending, another way to better budget your spending. You may also want to cut down the number of presents per person; instead of buying three or four, just buy two for each person on your list.

4. Don't shop during the weekend - Try not to go shopping on Friday, Saturday or Sunday they are the busiest days for retailers. If you can go shopping Monday - Thursday; less people, fewer lines means less stress. Early to mid week also happens to be when retailers receive new merchandise, not only will you avoid all the foot traffic but you may also be the first to get your hands on the item of the week!

5. Time out! - If you are feeling stressed take a break, listen to your favorite song, go out for some fresh air or a quick walk. Taking a break will help you clear your mind and feel relaxed.

Don't forget that the holidays are about spending time with your loved ones; so hurry back from the mall and spend time with the family. Its the best present you can give them and it's absolutely free! :-)

Sticks and stones...

I remember growing up we would say “sticks and stones can break my bones but worlds will never hurt me”; well we all know that is not true – words do hurt and in some cases they can kill. Given the recent cases of bullying, I feel that we as parents need to educate our kids as best we can about the dangers of bullying.

When I talk to my son I always ask him how he would feel if he were being made fun of and called names, then again he’s seven so it’s easy. It’s when they are older that things get trickier, violence and cyber space come into play then. I think monitoring your teenager’s online activity is a good idea, also just being an involved parent helps. Asking questions, being able to spot behavioral changes in your child and addressing them; having an open line of communication is crucial now-a-days.

People really do need to think long and hard before they speak and act. The reality is that words do hurt and can leave lasting scars far worse than any bruise, those words can lead to death. Which is why I can’t understand why anyone would start or participate in bullying; I don’t know if I would tell my child to step in if he were to see something for fear that he would be the next target or that they may retaliate. I do tell him to go to a teacher, school official that he trusts, even one of us (his parents) and tell them what he saw; hopefully this person could get involved. It’s so tricky though, you hear of all these cases as of late where bullied kids did tell adults, school officials and sadly not enough was done to help them. It's so disturbing to think that any one would think that death is their ONLY way out.

So please, please teach your kids to have compassion for others and respect our differences; it’s really the only way for us to prevent this from happening over and over.

I'm baaaack!! :)

Hope you all had a good three weeks; I had a WONDERFUL vacation! Upon my arrival I jumped head first into my new job! I'm loving it there, we have a lot of work to do and I'm focused on doing a good job.

I'm sharing a few pictures with you guys of the hotel we stayed at in the Dominican Republic.

Here are a few pictures of my kids, nieces, nephews, I LOVE my family!
 

 

 I hope you all enjoyed my pictures, have a good weekend!!

And we're off!!

As I sit here writing this post, I am putting the finishing touches in our suitcases. I am going crazy with the thought of something being left behind but all that is left to do now is head to the airport. I don't like flying, as a child I suffered from motion sickness; I would get sick in a plane, on a boat, in a car and even on the bus! :/ It's gotten better the last time we traveled I don't think I got sick and if I did I can't remember lol. A little nervous about all the security changes in place, especially for international travel. I just hope it's not an unpleasant experience for any of us.

I will be gone for two weeks, so please bare with me and know that upon my return I will have pictures and stories to share with all of you. :) Hope you all have a great two weeks!!

~b

Pack to Play

Happy 4th everyone!

We are going on a family trip next Tuesday for ten days and I've already started packing or more like taking inventory to see what I WILL be packing. Is that a little too "Type - A" for you?! Perhaps but when you have to pack for two little ones it's never too early to start AND the thought of me leaving something behind just freaks me out! I've put them in categories this way it's easier to sort; there's day/night wear and beach stuff. I will also try to mix and match items to get the most out of the clothes. I can't forget a few toys and their video games to entertain them during any down time.

I've done the same for myself including shoes, lmao! Oh goodness you guys are gonna think I'm nuts!! And yes I may be packing too much but I like to have choices; I mean my outfits change with my mood. I will be trimming my choices because I will need room for my toiletries, hair/makeup products.

It will be the first time my kiddies leave the US, that makes me a little nervous with all the new security changes and not to mention that I don't like to fly. Last time we went away it was to Disney World and I was in the early stages of my pregnancy. My morning sickness wasn't at it's worse and the heat didn't entirely kill me! I'm just really looking forward to getting away and spending time with my family.

Anyone else traveling this summer? How are you tackling "packing for a vacation"?

I got the JOB...

I was home with my son for two years before I started thinking about going back to work. Let's face it we are all going through tough times and I need to help provide for my family. Last April I was referred by a friend and landed a job at an accessories company; I was there for about six months. It just wasn't a right fit, my supervisor used to talk to herself - ALL the time! We shared an office and as you can imagine it was so hard to concentrate and focus; it just didn't work out.

I found myself at home for a month before I was able to get referred to another job, this time I was working for a small financial firm. After being there for about two months, two key players left the company and their needs changed. They decided that someone with a financial background would be a better fit and they had to let me go. They were nice enough to give me a month to try and find something while on their payroll. They ended up finding someone to fill my spot before months end.

I know it's been a tough year but I'm happy to say that I am will be starting a new job after the holiday! It's for a major bank and must I say that their pre-screening process is over the top! Four interviews, an extensive background check AND fingerprinting!! Just crazy, but I'm so happy it all worked out!

I am looking forward to being a working mom again, don't get me wrong I LOVE being home with my kids.  For me it's about balance, spending time away from home makes me appreciate it more. My kids are 3 and 7, I'm content and ready to head back into the work force.

Happy Father's Day!

With Father's day this weekend I decided to share with you a few scrapbook pages of my boys. Happy Father's day to all the good dads out there; we have to celebrate and appreciate all the good men in our lives!

Yes they are a bit out dated but now that my computer is back up and I've updated my software I can get back to scrapbooking.

Bed and Bath

Let’s face it bath time can very easily turn into hectic time; because all that can go wrong usually does! I’ve always wondered what is it about a bath that turns the boys off. In my house the “pre-show” (getting them in the bath) is the hardest part. The whole “bath time” process takes about 30 minutes.

 

Ethan (my 7 year old) he always says “but my favorite show is on”. As it turns out EVERY show is his favorite show – go figure! Now don’t get me wrong he doesn’t watch a lot of TV; with homework taking up most of his time after school. So I let him unwind and watch some TV.

 

Now Evan (my 3 year old) that’s a whole other story; he’s just against it ALL! So I have to convince him and at times physically put him in the bath. The good thing is that once they are in they are good. I let them take a few toys to play with and just relax.

After the bath they brush their teeth and settle in for story time. At first I would read to them but now Ethan reads to us. He’ll read a chapter from his book, while Evan takes a bottle. I know I know he’s STILL takes a bottle but he only takes it once in the morning and at night. After we read, it’s lights out at 8:30 pm and within 15 minutes they are snoring up a storm. Thank heavens, lol.

What are some of the challenges you face and how do you handle the bed and bath road blocks?