NIKE Young Athletes Innovation Summit | We’re GOING! | #NikeKids

In just two short days my husband and oldest son will be boarding a plane headed to Oregon. Why? They were invited to attend the NIKE Young Athletes Innovation Summit at the NIKE headquarters! How amazing is that, right? Joshua just turned 15 and has been playing sports since 1st grade when we signed him up for soccer. The bug bit hard and he has played nearly year ‘round ever since. When he started Junior High he took up running and joined … [Read more...]

Dream Big | Never Settle For Less | H&R Block $100,000 Giveaway

Growing up I had dreams. Big dreams. I imagined the cute little house with the white picket fence. I dreamt about a house full of children, a handsome husband and living on love. It was a beautiful dream and I hoped to some day achieve it. I married young. I was 18, oblivious and over the moon in love. We were poor... v e r y poor. Our first year together we made a whopping $6k combined... but we were happy. We were both determined to not stay … [Read more...]

Put An End to Childhood Bullying | My Story | #stopbullying

What is bullying? (source About.com) Bullying is intentional aggressive behavior. It can take the form of physical or verbal harassment and involves an imbalance of power (a group of children can gang up on a victim or someone who is physically bigger or more aggressive can intimidate someone else, for instance). Bullying behavior can include teasing, insulting someone (particularly about their weight or height, race, sexuality, religion … [Read more...]

On The Road to Financial Freedom | Debt Free Propels Me!

I have been a stay at home mom a majority of my adult life. Because of this, our family has had to be careful with our spending. My husband makes a decent salary, but things happen when you least expect them. At one point we were $37,598 in debt. This wasn’t due to extravagant spending as some might believe, but our used mini van and medical bills. Our long term goal was to become debt free and decided to debt snowball our way to freedom. My … [Read more...]

Small “Wins” Lead to a Successful Day & Future | Quaker Oatmeal

 I’ve learned that making New Years Resolutions just don’t work for me. I begin the year with every good intention… but things happen, I get sidetracked or I plain old lose my willpower. This year I have started making small lifestyle changes instead of one huge resolution. My first change is to start thinking of myself… sometimes even before the family (*gasp*). I start first thing in the morning. If I can grab a quick shower and … [Read more...]

Capture The Moment With Your Smart Phone

I’ve mentioned before how helpful my smart phone is in keeping me connected and organized while out of the house. There is another aspect of my smart phone that I adore… the camera. I used to miss so many important or spontaneously cute moments because my point and shoot camera wasn’t near by. I always had good intentions, but carrying multiple electronic items just isn’t feasible. My smart phone has a rather decent camera on it that allows me … [Read more...]

It’s Leap Year | Before Our 25th Wedding Anniversary I want to…

It’s a typical story. Boy meets girl, they court, fall in love, get married… and go on a honeymoon. Their first trip together, alone… time to focus, connect and just “be a couple”. My husband and I have been married for 24 years this summer. We have four children ages 3 through 19… and have NEVER. BEEN. ON. A. HONEYMOON. Yep! You heard me right. My “next big leap” as the title of the post announced is to leave my children… with someone … [Read more...]

Guidance to Help Achieve Your Goal | H&R Block at Home Instant Win & $100,000 Refund Giveaway

Spring of 2011 I had decided that I was ready to get off the couch and start living my life. Although I am fairly healthy, I am overweight I had been living a sedentary lifestyle. My husband had taken up running six months beforehand and was enjoying it so much his enthusiasm kind of trickled down on me. I began to imagine myself running and going for long distances… sort of like in a dream sequence on television. The fog would clear and then I … [Read more...]

Life Without My Smartphone?!

After only 3 months (attached at the hip) with my smartphone I now wonder how I got through the day without it. Before, my phone was just that… a phone. I was still using separate gadgets for everything… a phone, camera, camcorder, iPod, computer and electronic organizer. My smartphone is all that… in one. Why is it so important? It’s my connection to just about everything. As a blogging mom, I have to use my spare time wisely. Staying 0n top of … [Read more...]

Moneyball Coming to Theatres September 23rd : Game Changers…

Moneyball is the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing radical strategies and statistics that flew in the face of conventional wisdom. Change agents are people, like Oakland's A's GM Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt in the film), who "change the game."  In Beane's case he helped revolutionize the game of baseball with new approaches and … [Read more...]