ok, so my son Isaac is about to start his Winter Break. Isaac is 7 {soon to be 8} and is in the 3rd grade.

Isaac’s school is out on Monday the 24 - Jan 7. I go to pick him up and he has a thick ass folder marked holiday packet. So I am thinking cool some things for you to go.

Well I go into the packet and it is briken down into days Starting on Dec 27th

So Dec 27th - Packet #1 has 5 pages of work 1st page is a math sheet with 100 problems (multiplication)

This goes on for Dec 27, 28, 29 (sat), Jan 2, Jan 3, Jan 4, Jan 5 (sat)

Mind you ALL packets (8 of them) have Math sheets with 100 problems be it adding, subtraction, multiplication or division, then some money, vocab, writing, telling time and graph work…

THATS NOT ALL

they have to read the Magic Treehouse Book #8 Midnight on the Moon (about 70 pages) then there is ANOTHER %(%$&#^& SHEET

Each night that coincides with the dates above you have to read a chapter, then you have a list of vocabulary words. (10 each) look up those words, write the definations & put them into sentences.

OK is it me or is this just too damn much work for a 3rd grader/7yo.  We have FUN plans, his big sister is finally coming home from FL after being away for a year and he plans to be at the YMCA part of the break who in the hell has time for this when its supposed to be about family, fun, togetherness….etc!!! UGH

I can totally see having the book to read over the break and a few worksheets here and there but SHEESH you gave my homework on SATURDAYS too??

I am all for DC trying to boost up our children educational wise but I’ve had issues with the amount of damn daily and weekend homework they get and voiced that at my Parent Teacher Conference and now this?

Ok, lemme have it, am I being a baby or what?? Part of me wants to formally complain but then what? still he has work to be done!!

ohhh did I mention that My Bday is ON Christmas and his Bday is 2 days after AND he has his party on Sat the 29th (the day with TONS of homework…)

Real Life Guidance - Help for busy moms

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Well I am not the one that is actually freezing but I am the one doing the freezing.

I just wanted to tell you about this awesome new ebook ‘Freezing It & Loving It’ .

By now, you know just how much I love to stay organized, use a meal plan and I am a huge fan of implementing kitchen time savers and this guide is wonderful. Not only does it explain how to prepare meals ahead of time, so that each evening all you’ll need to do is bake or warm your (already prepared) main dish, perhaps toss a fresh salad or cook a vegetable, or maybe add some bread, but it also comes with the following:

– a sample meal plan with a complete shopping list

– detailed step by step to do lists for ‘cooking day’ and for each day of the week to follow.

– an ‘easy to print’ 32 page recipe guide to compliment every meal idea outlined in our Freezing It & Loving It guidebook.

This would make a great addition to any kitchen and also would work wonderfully as a gift to someone across the miles

How many times have you stood in front of the fridge with the kids behind you hungry and you WISHED that you could just pop something in the microwave or the oven. Well, here is your chance Mom! Stop by and read more about
Freezing It & Loving It.

Hey, I almost forgot to mention the best part. You can take up to 30 days to review this guide. If you’re not completely satisfied with this guide, they will give you your money back. No questions asked. So that makes this offer totally Risk Free! (Music to a busy Moms ears)

Take Care and Enjoy!

Are you tired of hearing all the grumbling and complaining around your house?  Do you ever find yourself just feeling down for no reason?  Maybe it’s time the family has a positive attitude adjustment.  It may take some time to get everyone in the swing of things, but before you know it everyone will be enjoying life more.

Growing up, many of us heard “Can’t died in the poor house”; meaning that saying you can’t do something will get you no where.  How can you bring that phrase to life? Simple –put it into practice. Set up a money jug, and every time someone says something negative, they have to contribute a set amount of money, like a nickel, every time.  You could make it a contest, maybe even between the kids and the adults. Whoever wins by being the most positive, having the least amount of money in their jar after a set period of time, gets both jugs of money.

If you don’t want to deal with using change, you could keep a chart.  Figure out what the reward will be for having a better attitude. Instead of penalizing people when they are negative, you could give a point every time someone is “caught being good” or being especially positive. You could even award bonus points if they are positive despite something disappointing happening, like failing a test at school. 

Another idea is having a time set aside to just share what we’re thankful for. Even though most people do this at Thanksgiving, it is a good thing to do year round.  We tend to take the good things for granted. By being thankful more often, it’s hard to be negative.  Just shifting your focus that little bit can make a huge difference.

A praise board is another way to help the family be more positive.  Set up a bulletin board somewhere everyone will see it.  Give each family member a section of it, or maybe even use small, separate ones for each of the kids on their bedroom doors.  Then everyone gets index cards and they have to write something nice about the person and put it on their board.  Tell each other the things you appreciate about them. Give them compliments.  Encourage them if they are down about something.  When the board is full, take the cards down and put them in a file box. Then if they have a bad day, they can either look at their board, or back through the box of cards with encouraging words just for them.

By just making a few changes, it is amazing how quickly the household’s mood can change.  The little things can really mean a lot.  Once your family starts being more positive with each other, take it a step further and share your good mood with your family and friends.

P.S. Grab your copy of Journey To Joy, your step by step guide to help gain the happiness that you deserve and to help you maintain a positivie attitude visit ALSO stop by Real Life Coaching and sign up for a coaching pagage of your choice and receive a 20% off discount between now and Jan. 31st.

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Washington, DC 20017

WOW this CBC stuff is FUN!!!  Hopefully you all have been listening in on the conversations that Arika and I have been having. 

Well after answering her 1st tough question, I asked Arika the following:

“Arika, Who are you? (meaning tell us about you, your likes, dislikes and family) Then please tell us why you chose to be a WAHM!”

Please run over to her blog and read the Answer that Arika posted to the above question.  I knew her family was special but I have to admit that I was grinning from ear to ear while I read her reply to the question!  What a lucky gal she is.

Well, I think Arika is taking it easy on me this time because she asked me a FUN question and get this.. She *Thinks* she already knows the answer… lets see just how smart this gal is.

Her question to me is

“What is your one weakness when it comes to food?”

Well, I would have to admit that my one BIG weakness when it comes to food is very unhealthy but to me it tastes like HEAVEN on a bun.. well make that 3 Buns!! Yes it is a Big Mac!!

Just take a look it it!!  YUMMO

Singing: {{Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun}}I was up to about 2 of these a WEEK, and I mean every week.  I know its not good for me but heck it is just so darn yummy and there is a McDonalds right new my house.  I finally cut down to one a week and like a little kid I take a bite and do a little dance in my seat :)  Yes, my kids think I am crazy and actually… they may be right. Well I am ready to toss another question to Arika.    Since I am done birthin’ babies I want a sneak peek into the preggo world. My question to Arika is this:

One of the hottest topics lately seems to be Goal setting & Goal Getting.

Setting good, clear goals is a powerful process for both your personal and professional well-being.  By setting goals on a routine basis YOU decide what you want to achieve and then move step-by-step towards achieving these goals.

I always encourage women to make an effort to spend time setting sharp and clearly defined goals.  One of the beautifully empowering things about goal setting is that you can measure and take pride in the achievement you make as you get closer to your goals. By setting goals, you will also raise your self confidence as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set.

The process of setting goals allows you to choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on to do it.

Remember, your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.

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Action Steps
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Here are a few action steps for you to take into consideration when working on setting and pursuing your goals:

YAY - I just love winning prizes!

Recently I entered an awesome contest over at Arika’s Blog where I correctly guessed the sex of the blessing in her belly!!  I wont tell you what Arika is having, you’ll have to head over to her blog and find out

Well, Arika had some wonderful prizes for the winners and the prize that won was donated by Annette of Fun On The Ark. When my prize arrived, I ripped open the box and SQUEALED.  Inside was the cutest white bear!! I won the bear, 2 shirts and a “Stuff it Kit”.  Well I immediately called in my almost 8yo son to help me and he and I sat on my bed, carefully stuffing the bear. It was so cute, as Isaac stuffed him (yes the bear is a he) Isaac kept telling the bear that it would be over soon and it wouldn’t hurt (hee hee).

Well we got the bear stuffed and I sat him up on the bed and he was just adorable.  Isaac immediately named him “Cubby” so we have a new family member here!

I wanted to keep Cubby in my room but Isaac convinced me that he would have more fun in his room where he could spend time with the other stuffed animals, Isaac’s 2 live lizards and his fish (LOL).  Cubby will stay here until my 1st gradson is born in late May then we will fly Cubby down to Florida so that my new grandbaby can give Cubby a new home.  Hey, what can I say.. we take our stuffed animals seriously!!

I have to admit —   I didn’t know much about Fun On The Ark at all but now after all of the fun I had with Cubby and after checking out all of the other cute animals they have, I am sure that I will be placing an order soon so that I can have gifts sent to my 2 God Daughters. 

Here is a picture that Isaac took of me with Cubby after he was stuffed and properly dressed.

Building up your self-confidence takes time and commitment but it is well worth it! You will soon find yourself embracing your new image and giving off a very positive energy that will surely come back to you.

1 - Start each morning and end each day with a positive statement or thought. Create your own mantra (i.e. “I am intelligent”, “I will have a positive day”, “I will succeed”).

2 - Get to know the TRUE you and accept yourself. The more you accept your true self the more others will do the same.

3 - Make a list of all your positive characteristics and achievements. Keep adding to this list as time goes on and be sure to keep your list in a place where you can access it and read it at will.

4 - Choose your words/thoughts carefully; Take time to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. If you are faced with a challenging task — instead of saying, “I will never get this done on time” rephrase your word/thoughts into positives: “When I finish this task I will treat myself to something nice” or “This may be challenging but I can do this”.

5 - Take what you are good at and enhance it. Let others know about it! Hold your head up high, be proud and know that you have a special gift inside of you.
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Free Related Resources
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Journey To Joy: Simple Tips, Resources and Tools for Living a Happier Life http://www.reallifecoaching.net/journeytojoy.shtml

Building Self Confidence http://reallifesolutions.net/personal/building-selfconfidence.html

Hi there - WOW, I’ve recently been invited to join in on a COOL Cross Blog Conversation(CBC) with Arika.

First I have to say that I was so excited and honored when Arika asked me to join in on this with her because I admire this woman so darn much!! She is a Great mother, a Fantastic VA and honestly, a darn good friend.  We will get to dig a bit deeper into Arika’s life as I ask her questions.  I hope she is ready because you all that know me know that I LOVE to get juicy, in depth details about people.

Just a Teeny background on Arika and I before I tackle her question.  She and I have been working together for  2  years!! Yes, it started off with me asking her to write one article for me then it blossomed into much more. Stick around this CBC and you will find out all of the things we’ve done together (Don’t worry, it’s all Legal…lol)

So off to Arika’s Question.

 She asked me

“Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be the awesome woman you are today?”

WOW, what a loaded question.  Well I am now 37 Years old (will be 38 on Christmas Day) and I was brought up in a VERY, VERY dysfunctional home. My Father was abusive and a drug user and my mother was an alcoholic and drug user for her entire life (Both have passed on).  I really had it bad as a child living with my parents and from birth - 12 life was pure HELL.   When I turned 12 I moved into my Grandmothers house in NY and she was the 1st adult figure that I really felt loved me.  She instilled in me that “you are not where you come from, you ARE who you become”  From that moment on I knew I wanted to grow up and help people!   Well I stayed in NY for my Middle and High School years.

I had my 1st child very young but didn’t let that stop me from graduating from HS with Honors AND getting a Full paid Track and Field Scholarship to a University in Washington, DC.  Guess what?  I took my baby right along with me some thought I was crazy but I did what I felt I had to do.  Times were good and bad but I felt I had a light in me that one day was going to shine so I kept pressing forward.  I got my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and also studied Psychology and soon got a job. 

Without typing out an entire book on my life (lol) I would say that since I grew up feeling unloved and since I was mistreated and abused as a child and I had a deep sense of feeling that I was really robbed of having a ”NORMAL” Childhood & Teen-hood I vowed to speak to other mothers as I grew stronger in myself and I also vowed to design my own family filled with Love, understanding and truth!   So, I didn’t become the woman I am today to say “SEE Everyone I Made it!” I know that I became this woman to say to other women ”See, YOU can Make It too!”

I decided to attend a fully accredited Life Coaching school and get my certification to be a Personal Life coach and using my own story, my own lessons, and what I learned in psychology and life coaching school to now help other women design the life THEY Want!  This I believe is my true passion and my calling from God!

WOW - that was cleansing!! 

 So now for my question BACK to Arika - since this is my 1st question to her I will make it kinda basic so we ALL can get to know her

Arika, Who are you? (meaning tell us about you, your likes, dislikes and family) Then please tell us why you chose to be a WAHM!

Nothing Fancy but I am sure Santa Will still visit…lol

Here is our Tree: (it looks better when its all lit up)

Here is the Gingerbread house that Isaac made all by himself yesterday at the Elementary Gingerbread house contest. He won 3rd place!!

Ohh Can I squeeze in a picture of Lance and I after our Fancy Party Last Tuesday — this was AFTER the party so we are both DEAD TIRED