A Day in the Life of a Super Mom: A Mommy Blog

Bzzagent and Trumoo Flavored Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 11:23:00 +0000

       Since joining Bzzagent.com in July, I have been very excited and happy with it. I have been invited to 4 campaigns so far, and couldn't be more pleased with it. One of my latest campaigns was the Trumoo one! I received a coupon for a free 1/2 gallon or full gallon of Trumoo chocolate milk or their limited edition vanilla flavored milk in Halloween orange I really wanted to try out the vanilla but my local grocery store didn't have it. :( My kids were just as happy with the chocolate though.

   I also had the opportunity to enter the Goosebumps Haunted Hollywood sweepstakes, to win a trip to Hollywood!

"Enter to win a trip to Hollywood, for a terrifying behind-the-scenes tour of FOX Studios! Plus, you'll visit old town Pasadena for a frightening special effects experience. Just enter codes found on caps of specially marked Halloween Edition TruMoo^® and your family * could be taking a private tour full of haunted Hollywood magic! Plus, receive a printable coupon for any Goosebumps^® DVD when you enter."
~Trumoo Facebook Fan Page

   Please feel free to stop by and leave a comment if you love Trumoo as much as my family does! And don't forget to sign up to be a bzzagent. It's totally worth it!

~XoXo Jess

Nominated For My First Liebster Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:14:00 +0000

Since I started blogging over a year ago, I have connected with some great moms. One of which just nominated me for a Liebster Award! Her name is Charlie and she's an awesome woman, full of wit and humor. Check her blog out here: Charlie Beth's My Life as Mumma Walker

Now that I've been nominated for a Liebster, I get to do what I love best! Write about myself with the help of some questions asked by Charlie! Here goes:

Where are you from? I am from Atlanta, Georgia in the grand ol' US of A. Nothing like a southern belle!
Why do you blog? I first started blogging because I felt like my life as a mom was worth sharing with the world. But then it morphed into more than just that. Now I blog for the therapeutic benefits, as well. I have a whole network of supportive moms and friends who I can vent to. I couldn't imagine my life without a blog now.
How long have you been blogging? I have been blogging for a little over a year.
Do you have any tattoos? (details if yes!) Yes! I have my husbands name and zodiac sign on the back of my neck and a "7" behind my left ear to symbolize my fav band of all time: Avenged Sevenfold! My best friend and I have that same one behind the same ear. I used to have my zodiac sign (Scorpio) on my right shoulder but it disappeared! lol
What's the craziest thing you ever did with your hair? Oh lord, I decided I wanted a "shag" hair cut in 9th grade. For some reason, I thought that pulling my hair up in a half ponytail and then cutting that ponytail off would achieve the "shag". WRONG! I had a mullet for 6 months, people.
What is your funniest or favourite blog post? My favorite blog post is the one I did about being sick being the only way a mom gets a vacation.
Have you ever done anything so embarrassing you daren't blog about it? of course tehe
Which social media do you use most? That would have to be a tie between Facebook and Pinterest. I'm nosy (Facebook) and a huge dreamer (Pinterest).
If we went out for lunch together, where would we go and what would you order? We would go to Mama Mia's (an Italian restaurant) and I would order the baked ziti (it comes with an awesome italian salad), a big slab of tiramisu, and a glass of moscato (or two...or three)
What super power do you wish you had? I wish I had SELECTIVE xray vision, the kind where you can see through walls to check on the kids when you're in another room.

Now for the blogs that I nominate for the Liebster Award!

Life From a Georgia Mom
Blogs and Ideas From a Stay Home Mom and Wife
Anni's Bubble
Baby and Me
Life With 3 Boys There's Never a Dull Moment

Here's the rules if you're nominated:

Link back to those who nominate you

Answer the 10 questions the nominator has for you

Nominate 5-11 bloggers with less than 200 followers

Create 10 questions for your nominees

Be sure to notify your nominees

-I copied these rules from Charlie's post: http://charliebeth.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/liebster.html

And the questions are:

1. If you could marry any celebrity, who would it be?
2. If you could go back to high school, what would you do differently?
3. What is your strangest quirk?
4. What tip did you receive from someone that you actually use in your parenting style?
5. What is your proudest moment in life?
6. Who has been your biggest influence?
7. Is the inside of your car messy or clean?
8. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
9. What is your #1 lifetime goal?
10. What songs are on your ipod/music player right now?

Have fun with this! I can't wait to read y'alls answers!

~XoXo Jess

BzzAgent is a Freebie Lover's Dream Come True!

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 19:38:00 +0000

       I have been trying out different sites where you use your influence to gain freebies for review. The first one I joined was Influenster, but after months of being a part of this program and not making much progress, I decided to look for some more sites like this. And I found what I think may be the Holy Grail of survey/freebie sites. (Sorry but I don't know the official name for these sites.) It's called BzzAgent and it's AWESOME! I have only been a BzzAgent for less than a month and have already been invited to 2 "campaigns". A campaign is a product or service that BzzAgent is highlighting. For example... I was invited to the NERF Rebelle campaign. The NERF Rebelle line is NERF products made just for girls! For accepting the invitation, I received a FREE, completely FREE, NERF Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow for my girls to try out. Once you receive it, you just complete the activities that go along with that item, such as posting on Facebook, writing reviews, posting on Twitter, etc. If you do all the activities and you do them well, then you are more apt to get invited to more campaigns. In fact, I got invited to the "Quaker Back-to-School Snack Basket" one just this morning! I'm going to be receiving cereal, cereal bars, cookies, and rice cakes! The freebies you get ain't no joke!

       If you do decide to sign up, all you have to do is fill out surveys. Check your account everyday to see if you have any new ones. The more up-to-date you stay with your survey, the higher your points go up. Their point system is between 0 and 10. The more active you are, the better your chances of being invited to a campaign is. It's totally worth it and it's not intrusive. You can also connect your Kroger card to it to receive some great deals! I really urge all of you to join this site! It's AWESOME!!!!! Here's the link:

http://www.bzzagent.com

       Thanks for stopping by and if you do sign up, I'd love to hear about your experience! Comments and questions are always welcome and appreciated. Oh, and don't forget to click the topmommyblogs.com banner to the right to vote for me! Have a fab weekend!

~XoXo Jess

Weight Loss Competition With My Sister

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 01:32:00 +0000

"The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind." ~G.K. Chesterton

I used to have an awesome body. True story. I was pretty obsessed with being "hot" up until I reached the age of 23. Then I guess I got lazy. I was also 23 when I got married. Coincidence? I don't think so. Tehe Up until that age I weighed 125 pounds, was always exercising and tanning. By baby number 4, I had shot up to over 170 pounds. I'm 5'3". I must say though, I did lose 40 pounds before I found out I was pregnant with Adrian (babe #4). I was very motivated back then, but then I found out I was pregnant AGAIN and just gave up. 4 years later, and I'm back up to 170 pounds. It has really taken a toll on my self-esteem and the way I feel about myself. I feel like me, but when I look in the mirror, I see a stranger. It's a little disheartening. I have tried diets since gaining all this weight but just never had the drive to follow through with them. So, one night while I was on the phone with my sister Crystal (http://www.yayasideas.blogspot.com), we were discussing her weight loss journey. She's had some weight struggles too, but started taking some weight loss pills that her doctor prescribed and has been exercising and eating more sensibly. As we were talking,an idea bagan hatching in my head. We weigh about the same right now, so I thought it would be a great idea to turn this into a friendly competition! I'm SUPER competitive, so turning this into a game seemed to be the perfect motivation. I know, I know, a healthier, thinner me should be motivation enough but honestly, it's not. I just don't have the drive. Until now. She and I started our competition Saturday and we're already s*%t talking! It's fun! Whoever gets down to 125 lbs. first is the winner, and I'm going to make sure it's me! I have been eating good without giving it a second thought. A friend of mine suggested trying out the Scarsdale Medical Diet. It's low carb and low cal and it seems to be a pretty effective diet. The claim is, that you can lose up to 20 pounds in two weeks. (I'm going to Panama City in two weeks so it's perfect timing!) You do the diet for two weeks and then you go off of it for 2 weeks, while maintaining good eating habits, but not as strict. Then if you still want to lose more weight, you just go back to the first phase for another 2 weeks. You can keep alternating this until you are at your ideal weight. Here's the link to the most informative website I've come across for the diet.

http://lowcarblisa.tripod.com/thescarsdalemedicaldiet/id18.html

And here's the official website:

http://www.scarsdalediet.com/

I have also set up a board for all of the good exercise and beauty tips I have found on Pinterest.

Pinterest: My New Beauty Regimen board

So, I'm going to stick to all of this and hopefully I'll be seeing some results soon. I will keep y'all updated! Now, I am not a doctor or a weight loss specialist, so make sure you do your own research if you decide to try out this diet. What works for one may not work for another, and since I've just started this myself, I'm not even sure if it works for me yet. But it's not like a fat overload like the Atkins diet is. You're eating healthily and that couldn't hurt.

I'd love to hear your weight loss stories, too! Whether you're just in the "thinking about it" phase or your in the midst of losingweight right now, your posts are welcomed and appreciated! Wish me luck!

~XoXo Jess

Guest Blogger: Author, Luke Murphy ~ "From Professional Hockey Player to Published Novelist"

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 23:58:00 +0000

From Professional Hockey Player to Published Novelist

It can almost be said with certainty that I didn’t follow the path of the average writer. As a child, I never dreamed of writing a best-seller, never aspired to write the next classic novel, I wanted to be an NHL superstar…period.

With the death of my mother in 1992, losing a battle to cancer she had fought so hard against for years, I sensed it was time to get serious about reaching my dreams, and moved away to pursue hockey.

From 1992-1995, while playing for the Pembroke Lumber Kings in the Central Junior Hockey League, I noticed a shift in the game of hockey and realized that the odds of making it to the NHL were unfavorable for a kid who stood 5’9’’ and weighed 160 pounds. So, my goals shifted. I accepted a hockey scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology. If I couldn’t make a living playing hockey, at least I could achieve an education and open doors for my future.

After four rewarding years at College, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, I wasn’t ready to give up on the game I love.

I attended the Florida Panthers Rookie Camp and played well, playing in four games, as well as scoring the game winning goal against the Ottawa Senators.

Unfortunately, I broke my hand in an awkward hit in my fourth exhibition game that ended my camp, but my hard work paid off. The Panthers offered me a Minor League contract, $500 a week to play the game I love. I spent six years in the minors and retired in 2006 with no regrets.

From a family of avid readers, even as a child, I always had a passion for books. Whether it was reading novels on road trips or writing assignments in school, literature was always part of my life.

In the winter of 2000, after sustaining a season ending eye injury while playing in Oklahoma City, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and a new hobby emerged.

One day, with an idea in mind, I sat down in front of a computer and began writing. I wrote a little every day, around my intense rehabilitation schedule and before I knew it, I had completed my first manuscript.

I didn’t write with the intention of being published. I wrote for the love of writing, as a hobby. Ever the perfectionist, I didn’t see my novel at the level to compete with best-selling authors across the country. I continued to hobby write through the years, honing my craft, making time between work and family obligations.

Then I made a decision – I enjoyed writing so much, I decided I wanted to take my interest one step further – write a story with the intention of being published. I realized that I wanted to be like my favorite authors - entertain readers and allow them, like when I read, to escape reality
and for a moment be in another place and time.

I’ve never been one to take things lightly or jump in half way. I took a full year off from writing to study the craft. I constantly read, from novels in my favorite genres to books written by experts in the writing field. I continually researched on the internet, reading up on the industry and process. I attended writing conferences and made friends (published and unpublished authors), bombarding them with questions and learning what it took to become successful.

Feeling that I was finally prepared, in the winter of 2007, with an idea in mind and an outline on paper, I started to write DEAD MAN`S HAND. It took me two years (working around full time jobs) to complete the first draft of my novel.

I then worked with editors and joined a critique group, doing anything I could to learn, to improve my writing and my novel to point where I could create the best possible novel.

I sent out hundreds of query letters to agents. After six months of rejections, I pulled my manuscript back and worked on it again. Then in my next round of proposals, I was offered representation by Ms. Jennifer Lyons of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency.

After months of work with Jennifer, and more rejections from publishers, my dream was finally realized in April, 2012, when I signed a publishing contract with Imajin Books.

My one piece of advice for all aspiring hockey players and writers…you need to be persistent, patient and thick-skinned. You’ll get a lot of “no’s” along the way and people trying to bring you down. But remember, it only takes one “yes”. Stick with it. Anything is possible.

~ Luke Murphy, August 6, 2013

*******

Back cover text for DEAD MAN'S HAND

What happens when the deck is stacked against you…
From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted fugitive, Calvin Watters is a sadistic African-American Las Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police, finds him to be the perfect fallguy.

…and the cards don't fall your way?
When the brutal slaying of a prominent casino owner is followed by the murder of a well-known bookie, Detective Dale Dayton is thrown into the middle of a highly political case and leads the largest homicide investigation in Vegas in the last twelve years.

What if you're dealt a Dead Man's Hand?
Against his superiors and better judgment, Dayton is willing to give Calvin one last chance. To redeem himself, Calvin must prove his innocence by finding the real killer, while avoiding the LVMPD, as well as protect the woman he loves from a professional assassin hired to silence them.

Short Bio:

Luke Murphy lives in Shawville, Quebec with his wife, three daughters and pug.

He played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. Since then, he’s held a number of jobs, from sports columnist to radio journalist, before earning his Bachelor of Education degree (Magna Cum Laude).

Murphy`s debut novel, Dead Man`s Hand, was released by Imajin Books on October 20, 2012.

For more information on Luke and his books, visit: www.authorlukemurphy.com, ‘like’ his Facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorLukeMurphy and follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/#!/AuthorLMurphy

Buy Dead Man's Hand here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OUT2ME/?tag=viewbookat0e-20
Review Blurbs:

"You may want to give it the whole night, just to see how it turns out."—William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Back Bay and The Lincoln Letter

"Dead Man's Hand is a pleasure, a debut novel that doesn't read like one, but still presents original characters and a fresh new voice."—Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of Poison Flower

"Part police procedural, part crime fiction, Dead Man's Hand is a fast, gritty ride."—Anne Frasier, USA Today bestselling author of Hush

Mr. Harlan Coben Told Me to Just Write...

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 00:35:00 +0000

       So, a few days ago I blogged about my dabbling in writing. Honestly, writing for this blog has motivated me even more to delve deeper into that. Now with all the kids in school, I will have more time to explore my options. And hopefully, get some real writing done. I have even reached out to my favorite author Harlan Coben for some advice and he tweeted two simple but powerful words; Just write. I know that doesn't seem like much, but it helped more than he could ever know. That's all I have to do. Write. Don't think about it, don't over-analyze my writing to death, just do it. At least, that's the message I got from it. Plus to have my favorite author acknowledge my passion for writing was really cool!
       Anyway, I have come across an author whom I follow on Twitter and I suggested that he write a guest post for me. He happily obliged! I'm actually really excited because I have never hosted a guest on here and since I'm on my writing kick again, I figured this would be an awesome first guest. So stay tuned!
       Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what your passion is! We moms are so focused on fulfilling our children's dreams, that we tend to forget about ourselves. And if you are just waiting for that last baby to be in school to do it, be patient. It'll be here before you know it and honestly, it's bittersweet. Also, don't forget to subscribe and I'd love for you to click the topmommyblogs.com banner to the right to help me get to the top! Thanks, y'all and I can't wait to hear what drives you.

~XoXo Jess

Another Round of Fall Decorating: Front porch/entry decor

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 17:57:00 +0000

"The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

******

It's hard to believe that I have been blogging for nearly a year! And it's been such a fun and interesting experience. I don't have a single negative thing to say about it. To be honest, it's the only thing (aside from raising kids and my marriage, haha) that I have stuck to for more than a couple of months. Being such a free-spirit and all. One of my very first posts was about fall home decorating. It is still one of my most popular posts and probably one of my favorite, as well. So I decided to commence my fast-approaching one year anniversary with another Fall Decor post, starting with decor for your front porch or entry way.! I hope y'all enjoy! (Check out the blogs that I have linked the photos to for some more great ideas!)

http://pinterest.com/pin/51861833180182874/

http://pinterest.com/pin/58054282667260695/

dandelionsdragonflies.blogspot.com

free-home-decorating.com

cozyhomescenes.com

Writing for Kids: Dare I dream?

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 21:51:00 +0000

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." ~Sylvia Plath

*******

I have been writing for pleasure since I was 14. I'm 31 now. My best friend Julie Woodward and I, discovered that we could write awesome "novels" and escape to a world that we wished we lived in. Christopher Pike/R.L. Stine style. The stories were that of a teenager's dreams; inheriting tons of money from a crazed grandpa, shackin' up with the boyfriend in a multimillion dollar mansion, speeding around town in expensive cars, dropping out of school... You get the idea. We didn't expect to win any Pulitzer prizes for our stories, but they were definitely fun to write...and read! We would write and write and then exchange our chapters to let eachother read what we had written. I can't describe how much fun that was. I don't know if Julie continued her writing after those teen years, but I know I did. Soap operas on paper.

As I got older, and the size of my family grew, I wasn't able to find much time to write. I was always coming up with new ideas for stories, whether it be from daydreaming while taking a bath, or in my real dreams as I slept, but never had the time to invest in finishing an entire story. Nor did I have the patience, to be quite honest. I decided to put my writing on the back burner until my kids were completely self-sufficient because believe it or not, you have to stay focused to be successful in writing.

Even though I have sort of given up on writing novels for the time being, I still have this crazy imagination that won't give me a moments peace. I have used blogging as a bit of a creative outlet but it's just not the same as the fictitious yarns I'm so good at spinning. My life is nowhere near as interesting as the characters' in my head.

So I have decided to try my hand at writing children's books! They are not nearly as time consuming to write and maybe I'll be good at it considering the fact that I have been a mom for 12 years and pretty much know what kids like. The problem, however, is that I have no idea how to get started doing this. I know that it's a lot easier to self-publish these days, but I'm so clueless when it comes to that sort of thing. I'm writing this blog post in the hopes that someone has all the answers! So please, if you know anything about writing children's books, give me a holler! You can email me directly or leave comments; I'd be happy either way. jessicarscott81@gmail.com

Thanks in advance for any help y'all can provide and wish me luck!

~XoXo Jess

Welcome Royal Baby Boy: My advice for the new parents

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:17:00 +0000

"In the sheltered simplicity of the first days after a baby is born, one sees again the magical closed circle, the miraculous sense of two people existing only for each other, the tranquil sky reflected on the face of the mother nursing her child." ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea, Chapter IV: Double-Sunrise

*******

Source: ABC News

As a kid, I had a huge crush on Prince William. I had posters of him on my walls and actually thought that I would be the one he married! Such a naive, whimsical imagination I was cursed with... Anyway, upon hearing that the new royal angel finally made his way into the world, I have to admit that I was very excited! I'm sure there's a lot of people who think that this baby's birth is trivial, but why not celebrate something good for a change?

This started me thinking about what advice I would give to the Duke and Duchess about raising a son. I have only one little boy, but the past 4 years of raising him has made me quite the expert in that department. There is a definite difference between raising boys and girls. So here's my advice for the new parents on raising a little boy:

1. Enjoy his newborn-hood. I know the late-night and early-morning feedings, the crying for no reason, and the never-ending poopie diapers may make this seem like an impossible feat, but don't take this time for granted. It is the only time you'll be sure he won't injure himself by sticking a finger in an electrical socket or hitting his head on the coffee table.

2. If you feel like something isn't right, it probably isn't. Don't let anyone make you feel like since you're a first time mom, that you are overreacting. Even if it comes out that you've made a big deal out of nothing, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

3. Don't underestimate the power of electrical socket covers. I had 3 girls before finally having a boy and the girls never put their fingers near the sockets. My son never kept his fingers OUT of them. Save yourself some shock of your own and stock up on these gems.

4. Let him get dirty. You will only wear yourself out trying to keep him clean. Boys by nature are just dirtier creatures than females. No kid has ever died from being too big of a mess, so let him have fun and love being a boy.

5. Take TONS of pictures! They change so quick and so much and you will want to make sure you get every stage of his baby-hood!

6. Little boys are very curious. Make sure you have a safe area so where he can explore. Even hide little surprises in the safe place so that he has his own little treasure hunt.

7. Hold him as often as you can. Before you know it, he won't want you to hold him anymore.

8. Teach him how to waltz early on. I taught my baby how to waltz when he was 2 and nothing's sweeter than spinning around the living room laughing and bumping into walls with your little guy.

9. Let him know that it's alright to lose. He won't always be the best at everything and that's ok.

10. Tell him on a daily basis how great and important he is. Make sure he knows that he can be anything he wants to be. It's never too early to start this.

Being a new parent is a very memorable time in one's life, but being a new parent to a little boy is an adventure all it's own.

~XoXo Jess

Angry and Abhored: Today's Society is Horrible

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 18:05:00 +0000

       Six days ago, my family was violated. I was upstairs taking a much needed nap from my chronic headaches, when my daughter Savannah came into my room and said, "Mommy, some man just peed in our front yard and Hannah saw him holding his pee-pee." (aka penis) Hannah is my 8 year old daughter. Now I have to explain the setting of our neighborhood so you understand what we have been dealing with. I live in a predominantly black neighborhood. In fact, my family may be the only white family in the subdivision. Now, I have lived in culturally diverse areas of Georgia my entire life. I was always the minority and I never cared 'cause that's what I was used to. In fact, when I moved out to Jackson (the country part) I had major culture shock, and it was because of all the white people that are here. I know it sounds crazy, but it made me uncomfortable to be around so many white people, and I'm white. So anyway, my family and I decided to move to a more urban part of Jackson, which was right in town. I hated the seclusion of living in the country and the lack of social exposure that came along with living on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I loved my townhouse. It was beautiful and our neighbors were cool. The fact that we were once again a minority didn't bother me, and my daughter Hannah, became best friends with the little girl next door. They would have sleep overs, my kids would spend the night with her family, and she would spend the night with us, too.
       So back to the situation at hand. A guy around 18 or 19 had walked to the front of my car, faced our front living room windows, where the blinds were pulled up, pulled his pants down, and urinated in our grass. Our yard is tiny. Like 9 feet by 6 feet.
   After I confirmed what my daughter said Hannah had seen (and I asked her a good 5 times about what happened so that I wouldn't be making any false accusations), I decided to go next door to confront the guy who had done this, so that I could point out the right guy to the police. My daughter pointed the guy out to me and I asked him if he had done what she said. He denied it. I walked off and he said, "F**k you, cracker." I was mortified! He turned it into a race thing! So I went in and called the police, before the guy had a chance to leave and once the cops arrived, all hell broke loose. All of his thug friends (and they are thugs) started pouring into my yard,calling me names, saying I only did it because he was black. They were calling me and my kids liars and racial slurs. Then his mom had the nerve to come over and call my daughter a liar, saying her son was going into the navy and blah, blah, blah. She even had the gall to tell me to get my "white ass" inside when she was in MY yard! After she left my property, she proceeded to call the cops again. The cops didn't even know why she called them. Anyway, I spent an hour with cops coming in my yard and young men coming in my yard, before I was finally able to leave. I knew we had to move at that point. The cops were even too scared to get them to stay off of my property. The first one that came out was shaking! Anyway, I got my expensive stuff out of the house and me and my kids headed over to my moms until my husband came home. We went back over there to get my cat and some clothes and left. Two days later, I went back over there to get our mail, thinking things had calmed down enough to go alone, and someone had broken into our house. They busted the front windows and stole the refrigerator, the stove and my microwave. I went ballistic. How dare those idiots come into my home. It wasn't even that they stole anything, it was that they had been in my home, where my family and I made memories! They violated my family! I went back outside and didn't hold back anything. I screamed at anyone who would listen! The cops came back out, got some great finger and foot prints, and I went back to my moms. Not only was my family treated like crap, but I feel like we were the real victims of racism. Racism isn't one sided like some may think. I have lived in the south my entire life and I've seen it all. I'm not racist, my kids are not racist, but these people in my neighborhood was. They were so quick to pull that race card, when I did what any responsible, protecting mother would have done, no matter what the race. I am now in the process of writing to every authoritative figure that I can think of to have something done about that neighborhood and the way I was treated by the cops. They never would make those guys get out of my yard, and one even implied that my daughter was lying. My family had to leave a neighborhood because we were ganged up on and intimidated. Our rights were violated and I will make sure something is done about it. All this, because I wanted to protect my kids.

Movies For Mommies: 15 of my favorite movies

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 23:15:00 +0000

I don't know how the weather is in your neck of the woods, but for the past two weeks it has either been raining or the clouds have been threatening rain here in Jackson, Ga. I absolutely love this kind of weather, so other than the house flooding or our missed trips to the lake, I have been enjoying it. This kind of weather always gets me in the mood for scary movie or Lifetime movie marathons. (I love Netflix and Hulu!) And if you are like me, you have had just about enough kids shows this summer. So, make some popcorn, steep you a cup of warm tea, and run the kids off 'cause here's my Top 15 list of movies just for mommies:

15.) The Saint

14.) Unfaithful

13.) At First Sight

12.) Dolores Claiborne

11.) Pretty in Pink

10.) Chances Are

9.) Steel Magnolias

8.) Terms of Endearment

7.) Love Story

6.) Gone With The Wind

5.) You've Got Mail

4.) An Officer and a Gentleman

3.) The Bucket List

2.) Bastard Out Of Carolina

1.) Fried Green Tomatoes

And there you go! I could watch each one of these movies over and over. Feel free to let me know what movies you love. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to click the topmommyblogs.com badge on your right to get me up to number 1!

~XoXo Jess

Amazing DIY Ice Cream Sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 22:43:00 +0000

"Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal." ~Voltaire

******

I have to say that I have a love/hate relationship with ice cream. I love it but hate that it's so bad for me. In fact, my whole family loves it so much, that we have to by 2 large containers of it at a time. (Not sure if it's pints, quarts or half gallons so I'll stick with "large containers".) My husband and I have even battled a snow storm to get ice cream in the middle of January! So I think it's safe to say that we are ice cream junkies.

I wanted to find a nice ice cream dessert to make with the kids for this summer, so I did some searching. I found such a simple and delectable recipe that I just had to share with y'all! Check these ice cream sandwiches out!

As-You-Like-Em Ice Cream Sandwiches


Source: http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/ice-cream-sandwiches- Photo by: Brian Hagiwara

Ingredients:

1 package(s) (16- to 18-oz.) refrigerated cookie dough (chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal or chocolate), well-chilled
1/2 cup(s) (optional) sprinkles, mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts
2 1/2 cup(s) (any flavor) ice cream, slightly softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spoon 18 to 20 heaping teaspoons of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, 3 inches apart. (Alternatively, you can just use store-bought cookies.)
Bake 9 to 13 minutes, or until golden. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheets, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Place sprinkles, chocolate chips or nuts in a shallow bowl (if using). Spoon about 1/4 cup ice cream onto the flat side of 1 cookie; top with the flat side of another cookie and press gently. Roll outer edge of sandwich in topping, if you like. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in the freezer until firm, about 2 hours. Repeat with remaining cookies and ice cream.

I really love this recipe! Please let me know your thoughts on this one. Feel free to comment on what your favorite summer time treats! Thanks for stopping by!

~XoXo Jess

Family Command Center: Keep your family organized

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 20:47:00 +0000

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses." ~Joyce Brothers

******

I am an organizational wiz! Except for my own life. :( No matter what I do, I haven't found the time or motivation to REALLY get my home and life organized... until now. I have seen TONS of family command centers on Pinterest, but the one that struck me as the most effective and easiest to stick to, is this one: (In case you're not sure of what a family command center is, it's a hub for keeping up with what your kids have planned, appointments, and any other thing you may deem important.)

Source: http://www.organizinghomelife.com/archives/2863

Now I like this one because it's using something that you already have in your home. A cabinet! Luckily, I have tons of them. Mine doesn't look exactly like this though and I'm still working on it. There's not too much to put in it since the kids are out of school right now though. I have been saving viable food boxes ( i.e. cracker boxes, instant oatmeal boxes, butter boxes, etc.) to use as the organizing containers. I just tucked in the outer flaps and cover them with construction paper. Then I wrote what each one is for. Right now, I have the following:

Coupons to clip (Making a binder to complement this one.)

Mail to read

Bills to pay

Pencil/Pens

Savings jar

And unlike the cabinet pictured above, I have used one with 2 doors and 2 sides. One side is for all of the school supplies and office materials, while the other side is for the containers previously listed. The fact that the cabinet has 2 doors makes it awesome, too. One side is for a calendar pinpointing when bills are due or anything that has to do with my husband and I. Also, our keys and chargers find their way on this door. The other door is for everything that has to do with the kids. Anyway, I felt like this idea could help a lot of moms out. It's not someting that HAS to be all store bought and it's really easy to keep up with. I would have taken pics of my own but it's still in the rough phases. I will post pictures as soon as it's complete.

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear your own ideas! Also, don't forget to subscribe to my blog for all of my current posts and be sure to click the topmommyblogs.com badge on the right hand side to shoot me up to number one!

~XoXo Jess

The Summer Bucket List: Giving My Kids a Summer To Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 21:50:00 +0000

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~From the television show The Wonder Years

******

Every summer, I swear it will be the best summer ever and quite frankly, it never is! I start out the kids vacation with well-intentioned promises on where we will go and what we will do, how adventurous the summer is going to be, but I can't ever seem to get past the initial promises, and in no time the summer passes us right on by. So this year has been a lot better, especially since we moved to a lake town. I told the kids before summer that we would spend most of the summer days and evenings at the lake, and I have happily delivered. It has seriously been raining nonstop in Jackson GA for the past week and a half, so we haven't been able to do that AT ALL. (And my tan is fading!!!!) Luckily, my two oldest kids (Evie and Savannah) have been in Myrtle Beach, S.C. with their aunt and uncle, so at least they have been having some fun. Anyhoo, today I decided to make a summer bucket list for all the things I want us to do since the older kids will be coming back tomorrow and since the summer is halfway over. I want to make sure we get to do EVERYTHING this year! Here's what my list consists of. And if you live in Georgia or will be visiting this summer, I'm going to add the websites and info on all the places I'm listing. (I urge you to write a summer bucket list too and pin it up in an very visible place so that you don't forget about it. That has honestly been one of the reasons why our summers are usually so fruitless, adventure-wise.)

(This has been copied from my actual list that I hand-wrote.)

SUMMER ADVENTURES

1. Go to Macon: http://www.maconga.org/things-to-do/

-Museum of Arts and Sciences: http://www.masmacon.org/

Hours: Tue.-Sat. 10AM-5PM, Sun. 1PM-5PM

Admission: Adults: $10, Kids 3-17: $5

-Ocmulgee National Monument: (I've been here and it's awesome!) http://www.nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm

Hours: Open Daily 9AM-5PM (closed on Christmas and New Years Day)

Admission: FREE!!!!!!

-GA Childrens Museum: http://www.georgiachildrensmuseum.com/

Hours: Open Tue.-Sat. 10AM-5PM, First Friday of the month: 10AM-7:30PM

Admission: $5 per person, Kids 2 and under: FREE; Free on the 1st Friday of the month

-GA Sports Hall of Fame: http://www.gshf.org/

Hours: Open Tue.-Sat. 9AM-5PM

Admission: Adults: $8, Children 6-16: $3.50

-Hay House: (Featured on the TV show, "America's Castles) http://www.georgiatrust.org/historic_sites/hayhouse/

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10AM-4PM, Sun. 1PM-4PM, Tours on the hour every hour, last tour starts at 3PM.

Admission: Adults: $11, Ages 6 and under: FREE

2. Stone Mountain: (There is an app for this.) http://www.stonemountainpark.com/

- Climb the mountain

- Watch the lasershow

Admission: Parking is $10, but the other attractions inside cost some money. Check out the website to plan your trip and see how much each individual activity costs or you can get an "everything included" pass. The activities I listed above are both free, as I'm trying to stay frugal. :)

3. Six Flags over Georgia: http://www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/index.aspx

Obviously, this one is one of the pricey ones. But to keep expenses low, bring a cooler filled with drinks and sandwiches to keep in your car. You can get a stamp that allows you to leave and come back. I don't know if you can actually leave the parking lot and be readmitted though.

Hours: Check calendar for days it may be closed but it's open daily 10AM-10PM

Admission: Online: $44.99 ( If you buy tix online 7 days prior to your visit, you can get them for $39.99. 3 days prior you can get them for $42.99)

General admission: (at the gate, day of) $59.99

Kids under 48": $39.99, 2 and under: FREE

Parking: $20

4. St. Simons Island:

-The Pier: FREE and open 24/7

-The Lighthouse: http://www.saintsimonslighthouse.org/

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10AM-5PM, Sun. 1PM-5PM

Admission: Adults: $10, Kids 6-11: $5, under 6: FREE

-Bloody Marsh: http://www.nps.gov/fofr/planyourvisit/bloodymarshunit.htm

Hours: Daily 9AM-4:30PM

Admission: Adults: $3, 15 and under: FREE

-Christ Church: This church is absolutely breathtaking and it's cemetary houses some very old graves. http://www.christchurchfrederica.org/

Hours: Daily 2PM-5PM, except on holidays

Admission: FREE

5. Juliette, GA: (Where parts of the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes" was filmed. The cafe is still there.) http://juliettega.com/

- Whistlestop Cafe: http://www.thewhistlestopcafe.com/

Hours: Mon.-Sun. 11AM-4PM

- Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/piedmont/

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8AM-4:30PM, Weekends 9AM-5PM, closed on federal holidays

Admission: I'm gonna assume that it's free because I didn't see anything saying they charge a fee on their website.

6. High Falls: http://www.gastateparks.org/info/highfall/

Hours: Daily 7AM-10PM

Admission: $5 parking

This is a great place to take the family camping. They have tent and RV sites as well as some "tents" called Yurts that you can rent out. The yurts are $75 dollars a night, with a minimum of two nights on the weekends. You can also rent canoes, paddle boats, and john boats.

7. Zoo Atlanta: http://www.gastateparks.org/info/highfall/

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30AM-5:30AM, Sat. & Sun. 9:30AM-6:30PM last admission is one hour before closing time on all days. The zoo is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.

Admission: Adults: $21.99, Kids 3-11: $16.99, Kids under 3: FREE

8. Dauset Trails Nature Center: http://www.dausettrails.com/

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9AM-5PM, Sat. 9AM-7PM, Sun. 12PM-7PM (extended summer times)

Admission: FREE, but bring quarters so that you can get food pellets to throw to some of the animals.

9. Noah's Ark: http://www.noahs-ark.org/

This place is great. It's a foster home for animals of all kinds, i.e. lions, tigers, bears, oh my! It also won the DRAGON-CON Charity Poll! They will receive half of the proceeds received from the DRAGON-CON convention, including a $50,000 matching contribution from DRAGON-CON! It was featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer! Watch the story here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/04/lion-tiger-and-bear-make-for-odd-yet-happy-family-at-ga-sanctuary/

Hours: Tue.-Sat. 12PM-3PM

Admission: FREE but donations are accepted

1o. Indian Springs State Park: http://www.gastateparks.org/info/indspr/

Hours: Daily 7AM-10PM

Admission: $5 parking

And there it is. There's not a lot on my list but I want to make sure everything is obtainable money-wise, as well as time-wise. A couple of the things are a little pricey but those things can be enjoyed on a small budget if you have one. I'm going to be adding this list to my Facebook fan page too, so stop by that regularly to see if I have updated it as I come up with new, cheap ideas.

I hope y'all have found my list helpful. I put all my lists in outline form cause I'm just weird like that, but you can just use this as a guide for your own list, no matter where you live. In fact, I would love to see y'alls lists too! Feel free to share them in my comments section! Hope y'all have a safe and fun summer and don't forget to subscribe to my blog! Also, please feel free to click the Top Mommy Blogs badge on the right hand sidebar to help shoot me up to the top.

~XoXo Jess

Empty Nest Syndrome: They Grow Up So Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 20:00:00 +0000

"We've had bad luck with our kids - they've all grown up." ~Christopher Morley

******

It seems like only yesterday that my first daughter was born. I know that's such a cliched statement, seeming like only yesterday and all, but it's true. I was 19 when my first child was born and 28 when the last one came into the world. I had a really hard time with my first daughter Evie because she was so collicky and I was practically a baby myself, so I had absolutely no clue what I was doing with her. People that say that your maternal instincts kick in from the time you give birth is telling a straight lie. Sure you know how to do all the common sense things, but it's the collicky nights of baby screams that you wish you were really equipped to handle. A year later came Savannah. She was such an angel. Two years after that came Hannah, a perfectly behaved baby, and then 3 years after that... came Adrian, my son. He was a near perfect baby, but his toddler years have proven to be a sadistic maniacal laugh in comparison. I'm not going to lie. I have said the old, "God, when are y'all gonna grow up and quit being so difficult?", but now that my son is going into Pre-K this August, I totally can admit that I wish I could take it back. Now that I'm older and more mature, I don't want my kids to grow up. I don't long for the freedom that I wished for when I was much younger. I actually feel stupid for ever uttering the words!

This morning I woke up as my husband was getting ready for work (6:30 am and the time I will be getting up to get my kids off to school when it starts back) and freaked out inside because my last baby is going off to school and he will no longer be just mine ever again. I have no more babies. I never felt this way with the other ones because whenever one would go off to school, I still had a baby at home with me. But now that I can't have anymore kids, this is it. My baby is leaving me. I'm so happy for him because I know he will love it and he's so smart that he will dazzle everyone, but what am I going to do? How am I going to be able to handle life now that I am losing a piece of what has defined me for 12 years? People say I will enjoy it and I'm sure I will, but I'm not ready for this. I'm not ready to let go. Oh lord, if I'm this bad about Pre-K what am i going to do when my kids go off to college and REALLY leave?

I just wanted to write this to let all you moms and dads know that raising children is not an easy feat. The best things in life take hard work and tears and many sleepless nights. But enjoy your kidsa while you have them because I never thought that 12 years would fly by so fast. It's like that old country song says, "You're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back, you're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast, these are some good times, take a good look around, you may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this."

~XoXo Jess

A Day at the Lake: Making memories the best way I know how

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:53:00 +0000

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." ~Russel Baker

******

Living in a lake town definitely has it's perks. Jackson Lake is the second reason why I wanted to move out here to Jackson, Georgia. As a teenager, my little sister, Crystal and I, practically lived at that lake one summer. I can't remember a summer before or after that one, when I was tanner! Now that I do live so close to the lake and I have 3 mermaids and 1 merman in training, there's not many days when we're not swimming it up at our favorite lake.

Yesterday was quite fun. My two oldest children are spending the week with their aunt, so Hannah, Adrian and I decided to take our daily dip in Jackson Lake. We were there for about 5 hours, which is a short time in comparison to our usual 8 hour lake days. We swam for what seemed like an eternity. Hannah just learned how to swim under water so that's what she's obsessed with right now. I can't swim for 5 minutes without her saying, "Mommy look at me!", and disappearing beneath the brackish water. I'm really proud of her because she's always been a little scared of the water, but now I have to practically drag her out of it when it's time to pack up. Adrian was up to his usual crazy antics, terrorizing other kids as usual. He's such a tough guy. He can make a 10 year old back down. (Adrian is 3.) He's also so awesome that the 10 year old want to play with him. He was sporting his shades yesterday.

You may wonder why we frequent the lake so often. Well, we are a family of swimmers. Not on any teams or anything like that, but it's our family sport. It started with me and then I passed the love of the water to my kids. But that's not the only reason. My kid's think we go just to have fun and get awesome tans, but that's not it. I take them for the memories. I want my kids to have the best childhoods and so many good memories that they want to pass the same things down to their kids. I want them to look back and remember that even though we weren't rolling around in dough, we didn't need it to have a great life. I sit on the beach watching my kids having the time of their lives, and realize that this time is so valuable and precious. We only get our kids all to ourselves for a short time before the world swallows them up and takes them away. And I have realized that because I was such a young woman when I had kids, I took that time for granted a lot more than I should have. I'm really making up for lost time. And thanks to a big water filled hole in the ground, I have the perfect environment to do that.

~XoXo Jess

Influenster: A New Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:20:00 +0000

I realize that it hasnbeen awhile since I've posted any fresh content, but Ihave been really busy and struggling with my PMDD for the past 3 weeks or so. Anyway, I wanted to quickly take the time to mention a new addictive website that my lil' sis Crystal (http://yayasideas.blogspot.com) turned me on to. It's called Influenster and it's pretty cool. I would compare it to Foursquare in the way that you collect badges but it's so much more than that. On this site, you win points for completing tasks relating to different brands and products. You collect badges and have the opportunity to qualify for some awesome "prizes", just by offering your opinion on products, writing reviews and filling out surveys. My sister actually snagged a cool "gift" to try out and post a review on her blog. These "gifts" are called Vox Boxes. Continue for more info regarding this highly addictive site...

-From influenster.com:

"

What Is Influenster

Influenster is a free -to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products.

So...what exactly is Influenster? So glad you asked. Here’s a handy definition that would make Merriam-Webster proud:

Influenster [in-floo-uhn-ster]

noun

An exclusive online community where tastemakers and trendsetters (such as yourself) come to share the latest and greatest news, places, products, and reviews with each other. 2. The hotspot you just bookmarked on your web browser that turns your social influence into sweet rewards.

Basically, Influenster is a place for culture junkies to come together and share their unique opinions of products and experiences. Active members of Influenster get exclusive access to deals, promotions, and swag from brands that thrive off the input (the good, the bad, and the ugly -- they just want to know what's up).

Do I have the chops to be a member?

Probably. Members have an active social life -- both online and offline -- and are always the first to tell friends about the latest discoveries. They want to be the first to know about the products other cool people are loving and hating. Is that you? Awesome, we want you as a member.

What’s involved in a membership?

As a member, you prove your influence by gaining Expert Badges and show how you live by earning LifeStage Badges...both of which are won in a variety of ways, such as: completing surveys, writing reviews, creating videos, and engaging in other social media.

What’s in it for me?

Very important. As a contributing member of Influenster, you get the chance to share your knowledge and know-how with other like-minded people.

You also get exclusive discounts on products and services based on the Expert Badges you unlock. You’ll have access to content and sales based on your influence and area of expertise.

As an active influencer, you’ll have the chance to get invites to Influenster programs so you can try the latest and coolest products catered towards your lifestyle before anyone else.

Members who participate actively on Influenster and engage in programs increase their opportunities to receive rewards.

If you participate in online challenges, play interactive games, spread the word to your friends, and gain currency within our system, you’ll earn serious street cred.

So wait, is this about getting free stuff?

Nope. If you’re here to mooch, this isn't the place for you. Nobody, no matter how high his or her Influenster Score, is guaranteed rewards. Even if you are offered a reward, you can always opt out. The real benefit of membership is access to exclusive content, product reviews, and discussion within a community of tastemakers. Perks are just the icing on the proverbial cake.

Why is this so fun?

There are many reasons. First and foremost, it's a forum for you and your peers to share your interests and discover what other trendsetters are doing and saying. It's like-minded people coming together to inspire one another and offer advice. Secondly, you’re competing with other members for the highest Influenster Score and Expert Badge scores. Just like a game that you can win, and winning is never not fun.

How did Influenster get started?

It was a dark and stormy night…wait, that’s not right. Influenster was started in 2010 by a team of people just like you: culture and beauty junkies with a whole lot of opinions about everything. We wanted a place to come together to share our opinions and hear what other people like us had to say about products and services. The goal? To learn what other influencers care about and to help brands make products that better serve us. After so many hours of labor, out popped Influenster -- an active community where real people share their experiences and give feedback to improve the products we use and the world we live in (yeah, we went there).

After all, you don't have to be a celebrity to think Diet Coke is bubbly and delicious. Every one of us can be influential in different areas with opinions that matter. As consumers, we want to know what other people like us think about products. Influenster is our answer. We give your opinions a voice and your feedback a direct route to brands and trendsetters."

I Will Always Be A Daddy's Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Wed, 29 May 2013 19:07:00 +0000

"Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again." ~Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968

******

Since Father's Day is right around the corner, I wanted to talk about my daddy. I have to say that I am a daddy's girl. Most of my great memories from childhood were made because of my daddy. I remember being just a little girl and always sitting in his lap on the floor watching T.V. Our favorite show was "Cops". I loved to fish so he would take me on all night fishing trips with him. We would go to this crappy, smelly lake and fish all night. I would always fall asleep, usually without catching anything, but I never passed up an opportunity to go with him.

Growing up, my dad was a truck driver. He was gone a lot but when he was home, he made my life fun. A lot of times, he would take me, my mom and my sisters on trips with him. My favorite trips were when he would take us to Florida. Because of him, I have toured most of that state. I was 2 years old when he took me on my first trip to Miami and I remember it like it was yesterday. He took us through Ft. Lauderdale near some nuclear plant where there was a river full of colorful tropical fish and manatees. When I got a little older he would take me on trips by myself. I was obsessed with New York when I was 12 years old, so he took me with him. It was such a fun experience because I had never been out of the South. When I was 14, he did one of the most amazing things for me. I had been wanting to fly on an airplane sooo bad. So, he drove down to Jacksonville so that I could fly and he would meet me there. That flight was so awesome. I felt so grown up because I got to fly by myself. He met me at the airport and took me to the mall so I could do some back-to-school shopping. From there, we drove to St. Simons Island (our favorite family vacation spot) where my grandmother had a house, and we stayed there for the night. He took me to the beach and out to eat and then we headed for home.

Even after I became an adult and was pregnant, he still treated me like I was still his little girl. There was this one instance when I was spending the night with my parents when I was pregnant with my first child and I woke up in the middle of the night with a horrible toothache. He heard me crying and even though it was 3am, he went to a gas station to get me some Tylenol. He did it without me even having to ask. Now that's an awesome dad.
To this day, he will all but force money on me if he thinks I'm low on funds.

I am so lucky to have such an amazing dad. We are still close and I see him on almost a daily basis. He has done so much for me and I know I will never be able to repay him, but that's the great part. He doesn't expect anything in return.

Sometimes being Sick is the Only Vacation a Mom Can Get...

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000

"I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better." ~Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, 1903

*******

My kids love to watch a show on the Disney Channel called "Good Luck, Charlie". On one of the episodes, the mom ended up in the hospital and made her injury seem worse to her family than it really was, just for some R&R. Hmmm... Started my creative juices flowing at the time. But I forgot about that great idea and a couple of years later, I ended up sick. For real. This past weekend, in fact.

It all started after a pampering session I attended with my soon-to-be married little sis, my older sis, my mom, and some future family members. As I got into my mom's SUV about to head out to a local buffet for lunch, I felt it. That well-known stab in the belly. The on-set of the dreaded... stomach virus. I brushed it off, figuring it was just my too-tight waistband cutting off the blood flow to my lower extremities, and we made our way to the restaurant. Much to my dismay, I was only able to down one plate of food instead of my usual ~~five~~ three. I luckily made it through lunch without having to make any trips to the restroom. My mom dropped me off at my house where I was greeted by my harried husband (who had to watch all four kids at the same time, bless his poor inexperienced heart) and my four kids, who were able to stave off hunger until I walked through the door. Yes, the inevitable "mommy's home so let's bombard her with everything that we want even though we've been home with daddy for the past 4 hours" took place. That's when I had to rush my mom out the door and run to explode in the bathroom. And I'm not using the word explode lightly. No, my entire digestive system decided to betray me and spew forth all of its contents. After a good and productive 20 minutes in my beautifully decorated "dressing/powder room", I flushed the violated commode, pulled up my pants, grasped each side of the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. I smiled. My ship had come in. Vacay time! I put on my game face (aka sick face) and hobbled into the kitchen. My husband was there preparing a lovely dinner to throw on the grill. That figured. The day before my bug decided to rear its ugly head, I all but BEGGED the man to grill some of the nice steaks we had in the freezer.

"I hate grillin' on that thing." He said, refusing to peel his eyes away from our stupid smart tv with its never-ending plethora of Netflix movies on it's swivel mount screwed into our wall on his side of our oh-so-comfy tempurpedic bed that I am usually too busy to enjoy. You know, with raising kids and a hubby and all.

"It's too small." He whined.

I flipped him off, and headed down the stairs.

So here I was, the next day, my guts writhing with infection and loose BMs, hating the smell of the grill that Anthony oh-so-vehemently cursed the day before. My eyes rolled right along with my stomach and I limped up the stairs to change into something more comfy. As luck would have it, I had no clothes. The laundry was all done except for two baskets full of my clothes that always seem to end up in the wash AFTER everyone else has clean clothes. I sighed heavily, and grabbed the only two articles of clean clothes that I had; a pair of khaki shorts (the only pair of shorts that I have WITHOUT an elastic waistband) and my bride's maid t-shirt that my sis got for me to wear out when we do our wedding errands. Great. If I wanted to deter any sexytime that Anthony may want to have later on, this would do it if the runs didn't. I pulled on this smokin-hot outfit and finally plopped down on the bed. I clicked on the tv and realized I could finally relax. Ant walked in and that's when I broke the news to him.

"I'm sick and I got the poops."

"Ugh", he replied. Then he disappeared again.

Just as I began to get comforatble, I heard him yell up to our lovenest,

"Your mom's back and she's crying. Get down here!"

"AAAAHHH!" I screamed. My mom and dad had been going through some kind of spat, so I rolled off the bed and stumbled BACK downstairs to entertain. I mean, don't get me wrong, I felt bad for my mom, but I was really sick! My stomach was cramping even more and to make matters worse, my mom was a little intoxicated. Great. So as she poured her heart out and repeated the same story for the 39th time, I tried to act interested. I even offered to drive her home if she didn't feel like she could do it herself. Finally, after using every tactic I could think of to gross her out about my worsening condition, she decided to go home, but not before leaving me half a xanax so I could go to sleep. Good ol' mama. :) I went back up stairs to have another go at my vacation. My husband joined me shortly after leaving the kids to their own defenses and I passed out.

When I finally awoke out of my Xanny induced stupor, I was even worse off than I was the day before. Every joint in my body felt like someone was drilling screws into them. I even thought I may finally have known what the pain felt like when Kathy Bates smashed James Caan's ankles with that hammer thing in "Misery". It was REALLY bad. Ant decided he had to go visit his mom an hour away. I told him to make sure the kids had food because I just couldn't move. I really couldn't. What a vacation this was turning out to be. My 11 year old seemed to be excited to baby-sit for the afternoon, and after Anthony gave me some ibuprofen and Pepto-Bismol to chase the pills with, he took off. I turned on the tv and put on my go-to-tv-show-when-down-in-the-dumps "The Twilight Zone", but my discomfort wouldn't allow me to enjoy it. I ended up falling asleep again. I hadn't had any more bouts with diarrhea since the day before, but I felt like crap. No pun intended. I suppose he eventually came home, cause I woke up to the smell of, guess what? The dang grill going again!

So that was my weekend. My husband is only off every other weekend and that just so happened to be it. So not only did I get to spend no time with my husband, I missed out on some great food.

Monday morning finally came. Anthony had already left for work and I was sore but recovering from the weekend's raucous "partying". I drug my battered body out of bed to get the kids ready for school and I was greeted with a wonderful surprise. My awesome kids cleaned up the entire downstairs that I was dreading to see. I hadn't left my bed almost the entire day Sunday, so you can imagine how nervous I was to see the house. They had done laundry! They had washed dishes! They had cleaned up the kitchen and the living room! I smiled as I stepped off the last step into the living room. I may have had to pay a dear price for my vacation, but it was worth it. My kids appreciate me. That's why they wanted to do for me what I always do for them. And I would go through all that pain all over again just to have them... clean up the entire house. :)

I hope y'all have enjoyed my ramblings today! Feel free to leave a comment a let me know how you manage to "take a vacation". Don't forget to subscribe and vote for me on topmommyblogs.com! Just click that button at the top of my right sidebar and get me to first! Thanks for stopping by!

~XoXo Jess

The Secret: Time to be positive and change my life

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:08:00 +0000

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit

******

My parents were never that great with money. There were quite a few times when our gas was disconnected because we didn't have the money to pay it. Phone was off most of the time and my parents were constantly struggling. They were great people, it just always seemed like they had terrible luck. Cars were always breaking down, my dad was injured while restoring his dream house and he lost his job... it was always one thing after another in our family. My parents did the best they could. Or so they thought. Their lives before they found each other were not easy. My mom grew up where her dad beat her mom. Not just a slap here and there, but really beat her. My sweet grandmother eventually left my grandfather. My grandfather eventually paid the price for tormenting her by having his legs cut off from his diabetes.

My daddy's life was a little different but his life was molded by a mean mother. She treated him different. Treated him like he was nothing. She treated him like he was never good enough. Still does.

The purpose of writing about my parents early life and the way I grew up, is to illustrate the power of negativity. My parents grew up in negative households and carried that with them into adulthood. That negativity rubbed off on me. I believed my dad was cursed because he always said he was. Therefore, I believed I was cursed. I have went through the same things that my parents went through. I have suffered many utilities being disconnected. I have had numerous cars break down. I have had failed relationships. I'm just cursed. Wrong! I was taught that bad things are gonna happen to me no matter what I do. My parents lived that mantra. But come to find out, we attracted these things to us. We visualized failing, therefore we failed. We complained about how bad things happen to us no matter what and voila! Bad things happened to us! I swear, I'm always talking about how my cars are always pieces of junk and guess what? They always break down! I always thought that the situations caused my negative thinking, but in actuality, my negative thinking caused the situations! So if y'all are wondering how I came up with this epiphany, I'm going to tell you. I watched a documentary on Netflix called "The Secret" today. The funny thing about this is that I was actually given this movie about 4 years ago but never got around to watching it.

"The Secret" is all about the laws of attraction and the way our thoughts and feelings attract certain situations. Once I saw this movie, I thought back to a bunch of scenarios when I thought of something negative and it actually happened. I also thought of many ways when I had a positive attitude about something and something positive happened. I always attributed it to something more telekinetic, but I guess in a sense it was. I have had a lot of negative things happen in my life but I have realized that it's all been because of my attitude and the way I chose to handle any given situation. But it's just as easy to have a good outlook as it is to have a bad one. And if you reap awesome rewards from having a positive outlook and sending good vibes, what are you losing?

According to "The Secret", being grateful is a good way to start this "getting by postive thinking" way of living. Yes, you may want a nicer house, where the floor isn't falling in in the bathroom and where you can have central air and heat, but be thankful for that dilapidated house! Believe it or not, someone always has it worse than you and at least you have a roof over your head. Which is more than a lot of people have. Once you start being thankful for what you have, however little it may be, your way of thinking changes. You'll start being positive.

The act of visualization is a key player in attracting the things you want in life. You have to visualize that beautiful brand new house or that perfect health and actually live it in your mind before you can receive it. As corny as this sounds, my plan is to go into my room, dim the lights, and really meditate and visualize having money to pay bills and put my kids in all the extracurricular activities that they want to participate in. I'm gonna talk to myself and talk to what it is that I want. What could it hurt?

Another thing is to actually believe you can have all that you want. If you don't believe it will happen, it won't. Once again, why waste time being negative when it takes the same amount of time and energy to thing positively?

Receive what it is that you want. If you want that brand new Nissan 370Z calling your name everytime you drive past the dealership, visualize yourself receiving it. And how your life is changed from getting it.

I am so thankful that I finally decided to watch this movie because it made so much sense to me. I have always been really in tune with my thoughts and feelings but never took the time to explore this subject. Aside from the one C-section I had, I gave birth to my other 3 kids with no epidural because I"m terrified of needles. But I was able to do this by focusing and "going to the beach" in my head. I would find a spot on the wall and "go to the beach". It always worked and in no time, I popped a baby out. Your mind is more powerful thanyou think. Use it for some good.

http://thesecret.tv/

Don't forget to subscribe to stay up to date with all my posts and I would love for you to vote for me on topmommyblogs.com . Just click the TMB button at the top of the right hand sidebar and help me get to the top!

~XoXo Jess

Top Mommy Blogs and Google +: Where were you when I was 19?

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:47:00 +0000

"A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you."
~Irish Blessing

******

I became a mom at the ripe old age of 19. At the time, I convinced myself that since I was already engaged to my unborn child's father and that we had an amazing life together, I was mature enough and ready for the baby. I wasn't a teen mom, I told myself. I was so ready for this. Wrong!!!! On so many levels. Now that I am 31 and actually mature, I realize that I was so clueless when it came to being a mom and a wife. (I sometimes still am but that's beside the point.) After giving birth to my daughter via C-section (and being majorly traumatized 'cause after all, I was still a child and it scared me) I kind of went a little crazy. Movies and T.V. and sometimes books really romanticize having babies. But they don't tell you what happens in true life. No one tells you how once you're kids start school, you're gonna be heartbroken by the kids who are less fortunate than your own.

I always prided myself in the fact that while so many of my friends and acquaintances were getting pregnant in middle school and high school, I actually made it out with no baby. But having a kid at 19 is just as hard. The day I brought Evie home, I was thrown into shock. I was in major pain from the c-section, I couldn't laugh because it hurt so bad and I would end up bawling from the pain. My brain was wracked with excruciating migraines and I yearned for my childhood. After my c-section wound healed, I would make excuses to leave the house alone. I remember walking up to the mailboxes of our apartment complex and crying because I knew I would have to make excuses for a very long time just to leave the house alone. I walked to those mailboxes, savoring the memories of when I was a kid. I walked slowly because I just wanted to remember. I wanted to remember my life before Evie so bad. Sometimes in the middle of the night, when she was crying incessantly, I would go and sit out in my car for hours. My fiance was in there, of course, but I needed to be alone. Evie cried a lot. She cried almost every night for hours, up until she was one year old. The thing was, I think I would have been able to handle this better if I had an outlet like I do now. I have so many ways to talk about the joys and woes of motherhood and I couldn't be happier.

First, I want to talk about topmommyblogs.com . When I first started my blog, I wanted traffic. Big surprise there. So I went through the internet looking for blog directories and bookmarking sites to promote my blog on. I came across Top Mommy Blogs. I loved the fun design of the site and it seemed like an all in one place to get my site promoted and to talk with other moms about life in general. But I hit an obstacle, I had to have an active blog for at least 4 months. (Correct me if I'm wrong on this. It may be 3 months.) Dagnabbit! So that meant I had to wait awhile before I got more established. Well, I forgot about the site. I got so focused on life and writing my blog, that I completely forgot about TMB. Well, 9 months later, I remembered. I got accepted to the site and I love it! It's a great place to go when you wanna talk to other moms about what's going on in your life, and it makes you actually feel like your blog is important. I have found so many awesome mommy blogs on there and have connected with some great women.

******

Top Mommy Blogs is your ultimate resource for finding the most popular mom blogs on the web. Here you can:

Browse through our 4500+ members in 30 different categories.
Follow tireless deal searching mama's in our Top Mommy Blogs Coupon Edition.
Discover, rate and share mommy blogs with our social network enabled listings.
Promote your own mommy blog for free.
Make new friends, discuss mommyhood, mommy blogging & more in the TMB Lounge.

SOURCE: topmommyblogs.com

******

       If you have a blog and haven't applied to become a part of this awesome community, do it now! Especially, if you're a new mom. I think I would have been able to deal with early mommyhood better if I had something like this back when I first had kids.

       The next thing I want to discuss is Google Plus! This is such an awesome site for promoting my blog and connecting with other moms, too. The ladies I have connected with on here are so supportive and just all around awesome. We may all have mommy blogs, but I guarantee you, that not a single one is like the other. These women are strong and they aren't afraid to write about how they feel and what they want out of life. I have always talked about mommies needing a good support system, and this is probably the best one you will ever find. They all support each other. The best way to take advantage of Google + is by getting involved in the communities. Just go to he community section and search for what kind of community you want to be apart of. I put in mommy blogs and hit the jackpot. Not only has my blog traffic increased, I have met some of the best moms on the web.

   I hope y'all have enjoyed today's post because I have enjoyed writing it. Mommy blogging isn't all about the money you can make. Blogging is a lifestyle that is therapeutic while helping others in the process. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a post and I would love for you to vote for me on topmommyblogs.com . Just click the TMB button at the top of my right sidebar and help me make it to the top! Thanks for stopping by!

~Jess

My Top 5 Favorite Cocktails: Try these for your next girl's night out or just to relax at home

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:36:00 +0000

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. " ~Ernest Hemingway

******

It's the weekend, ladies! Time for a cocktail! I like to drink. I'm not gonna lie about it. I mean I don't go overboard like I used to when I was a youngster or nothin, but I do enjoy a ~~bottle~~ glass of wine on occasion. Moscato is the all time best as far as I'm concerned. Sometimes we moms need a little something extra to wind down though. And when that time comes, I like to drink something a little stronger than the wine. Check out this list of my top 5 favorite cocktails.

#5 Mimosa:

We southern girls love our mimosas! We can drink these as soon as we wake up and can justify it since it has orange juice in it.

Source: bing.com/images

Ingredients and Directions:

- 2 oz. orange juice

- chilled champagne

Pour orange juice into a collins glass over ice cubes. (I personally prefer to use a champagne flute.)
Follow with champagne to the top of the glass. Mix very gently.

#4 Madras:

I had this for the first time in one of Atlanta's best restaurants, Houston's. It's yet another simple drink that uses my favorite liquor, vodka.

Source: bing.com/images

Ingredients and Directions:

-3 oz. cranberry juice

-3 oz. orange juice

-1 oz. ruby red grapefruit juice ( This isn't part of the original recipe but I like to add this to it. It gives it a little more tang.)

-1.5 oz. vodka

Stir in high ball glass.

#3 Cape Cod

I know y'all are probably noticing atrend of vodka, but what can I say? I like vodka! :)

Source: http://www.drinkswap.com

Ingredients and Directions:

- 1.5 oz vodka

-4 oz. cranberry juice

Mix and serve in a highball glass.

#2 Jager Bombs:

Jagermeister is an awesome liqueur. Couple it with some red bull and you have a masterpiece. This gives you a smooth buzz like no other!

Source: recipecan.com

Ingredients and Directions

- 1/2 can of Red Bull

- 1 - 2 oz. of Jagermeister

Pour the Red Bull in a medium sized glass. Drop in the shot of Jager. (shot glass and all) and chug, chug, chug!

And for the #1 favorite cocktail of all time is... Drum roll please...

#1 Amaretto Sour

This is the best tasting drink of all time! It's the perfect combination of sweet and sour. The best amaretto to use for this is Di Sorono, hands down. It's a little on the expensive side but the quality is stellar.

Source: http://mixthatdrink.com/amaretto-sour/

Ingredients and Directions

2 ounces amaretto
1 ounce lemon juice
Optional: granulated sugar for the rim (or about 1 teaspoon)
Maraschino cherry

Rub the rim of an old-fashioned glass with lemon juice, then dip it into a pile of granulated sugar several times until the rim is covered with sugar. Shake the amaretto and lemon juice without ice, then strain into the glass over ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. An orange round makes a nice additional garnish.

******

Now that I'm a little older, I really drink to relax as opposed to doing it to get drunk. And these really got me in the mood to enjoy one of these fantastic drinks tonight! If you need some mommy time, go ahead and make you one of these.

Oh and if you're not too buzzed yet, make sure you subscribe to my blog so you always stay in the loop with my drinking habits. HaHa. Also, I'm trying to make it to the top of topmommyblogs.com, so I would love for you to vote for me. Just click the button at the top of the side bar and that counts as a vote. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend! Over and out. (I've always wanted to say that, tehe.)

~Jess

Not Feeling Like A Super Mom Today....

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:52:00 +0000

       I started this blog with the idea in mind that I would always be real. There's so many mom blogs out there that only highlight the great things about being a mom and being a wife. I wish life was like that for me but it isn't always great. And I've always considered myself an open book (not always a good thing) because I have to talk about my problems. I have to be able to vent and talk out my feelings. Unfortunately, my husband isn't always the easiest person to talk to so I have reserved my venting to my awesome readers.

       The past couple of days have been pretty difficult for me. My oldest daughter Evie stepped on a rusty nail, but since she was up to date on her tetanus shot, I thought she would be ok. We cleaned it constantly and I made her soak her foot in a baking soda bath, hoping to stave off any infection. The next day after constant observation to make sure infection wasn't setting in, I started noticing some red lines running from the wound. I have always heard that this could be an indication of blood poisoning. I finally got her up to the hospital ER and we received the news, after an X-ray, that not only did the nail nick the bone, the nail also left some deeply imbedded debris behind. The doctor started her on antibiotics but told me that the amoxicillan takes care of most bacterial infections, except for one. And it was that one that the doctor was concerned about. I was freaking out inside, but couldn't show it for the sake of Evie. She was in relatively good spirits about the whole thing because she gets to stay out of school for the next 2 days. She's a trooper. The doctor went ahead and gave her a dose of amoxicillan so that I wouldn't have to drive around looking for a pharmacy at 1 am. He told me to keep a close eye on it and if it seemed to get worse, to rush her back to the hospital.

       Today, my husband went to drop the prescription off and it ended up costing $40.00. We don't have insurance and money has been tight so that was a lot of money to us.The minute he walked through the door with the medication, he decided to give me attitude. I let it go because I was exhausted from getting almost no sleep. My husband has a knack for NEVER letting an issue go. Something that happened 8 years ago he will still bring up. And anytime we have any money issues, he puts the blame on me. I'm the type of person, that if I know I won't have any money to get me through the week or what have you, and my cell phone is due, I won't pay the phone bill to make sure I have money for the kids. He isn't and never has been like that. He will pay his phone bill before he does anything. I know it sounds like I'm talking crap about him, but he and I have no communication skills so I can't discuss this kind of thing with him. He quickly turns the blame on me. Instead of acting like we're a team, and that when we struggle, we struggle together, he lashes out at me. Needless to say, we had a huge fight, he left and now I'm stranded here without a car because my engine in my car finally breathed it's last breath. $3800.00 bucks down the drain. I can't walk anywhere because my daughter can't walk far. And we have no food in the house. Times like these really make me want to be single. To me, being married just isn't worth it.

       I know people have it a lot worse than me and I hate complaining but dang! Today has just been a messed up day. Thank y'all for letting me vent and I promise I'll have a fun and exciting post next time.

~XoXo Jess

7 Unique Store Bought Mother's Day Gifts: Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:58:00 +0000

"Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children." ~William Makepeace Thackeray

******

Yes I stole a quote from the movie, "The Crow". At least, that's where I remember it from and I've always loved it. Moving on. Mother's Day is only a few days away now, so if you haven't come up with what to get your mom or haven't hinted around to the hubby and children about what you want, you better get a boot on it.

Mom's will always love anything they receive from their kids. It's embedded in our maternal makeup. In fact, I prefer Mother's Day gifts that are handmade over store bought ones. Well, from the kids. But sometimes I want my husband to go that little extra mile to show how much he appreciates me. He knows what I love and he knows what I hate. So some nice chocolate diamonds should be waiting for me when I take my morning spill down the stairs on Mother's Day. Ha! I wish! Anyway, I have compiled a list of things I believe moms will love. I don't think you can go wrong with these. (Just please no kitchen items, diet items, or exercise equipment. Oh and no house cleaning products. The last thing moms want to be reminded of on their day is that they are the workhorse of the family.)

Under-the-counter Wine Refrigerator:

This is an awesome idea for when you want to conserve space. And most moms that I know love wine!

Source: brookstone.com

Vintage Book MacBook Case:

If mom's an avid reader and lover of all things "book" (like myself, hint, hint if you're reading Anthony), she would love this case! Well I would need a MacBook first I guess, so unless your buying me a laptop to go with it, just scratch that hint babe, thanks.

Source: http://twelvesouth.com/products/bookbook/

Presso Espresso Machine:

Ah, espresso...cappuccino.... Moms need this stuff to survive! It's just the way it is. Why not give her an espresso machine that looks awesome along with curing her urge to drink fancy coffee? This will only set you back about $100.00.

Source: touchofmodern.com

Desk Top Jelly Fish Tank:

OMG! I'm terrified of these things while I'm swimming in the ocean but I love to look at them when there is some glass between us. The Georgia Aquarium has a beautiful jellyfish exhibit. Anyway, if you or your mom is a marine biology fanatic like me, they would appreciate this awesome gift. It's a little steeply priced at around $382.00, but can you imagine the conversations that will hatch from having such a piece? I want it!

Source: ebay.com and jellyfishart.com

PODillow:

I came across this one on Pinterest a while back and was mind blown! Now I know that we are supposed to be more diligent about staying out of the sun, especially to get...dare I say...a tan! But I'm sorry, I love to tan. Not in the tanning bed and not with the self tanner. (The self tanner thing is the biggest pain in the butt if you want it to look even remotely natural. Not worth it, in my opinion. Ain't nobody got time for that!) I like the good ol' blaring daytime star. So if your like me and like to tan or just chill, slathered in SPF, sprawled out on the beach, this product is for you or moms you know like me.

Source: podillow,com

Herkimer Diamond Earrings:

If you or the mom in your life like organic, funky jewelry these earrings are for you! They aren't actual diamonds, but a kind of quartz that is from Herkimer, New York. They are set in sterling silver and are STUNNING! $Cost for these are about $50.00.

Source: https://uncovet.com/favorites/herkimer-diamond-earrings

Anything Apple:

If you have the money to spare, any Apple product will do for Mother's Day. I personally would want to have this reserved as a birthday or Christmas present, but a lot of moms these days love techie stuff.

Source: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad

I want all of this stuff! And don't worry, if you don't have the money to go all out on Mother's Day, moms just really want to feel appreciated. That's the bottom line. Come up with something personal and thoughtful and mom will be elated. I promise.

Thanks for stopping by and like always, subscribe to my blog for the most up-to-date posts and don't forget to vote for me on topmommyblogs.com! Just click the topmommyblogs.com icon in the top righthand sidebar and help me shoot to the top! Thanks and happy (ugh!) Monday!

~XoXo Jess

Keep Our Kids Innocent: Ban Vulgar Rap Music

noreply@blogger.com (Krlenen) — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:29:00 +0000

"Never act until you have clearly answered the question: "What happens if I do nothing?" ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

******

I have been getting more and more disgusted with music these days, among other things. I'm not a prude by any means, but what I listen to I don't necessarily let my kids listen to. My mind is mature and not nearly as impressionable as little kids'. Now that's not saying that I listen to horrible music, but Avenged Sevenfold and Slipknot doesn't always have the best subject matter. Therefore, I pick which songs from them I let my kids listen to. (None of Slipknot, by the way.)

This intro was building up to my disdain for today's vulgar rap music. The rock that I do listen to doesn't hold a candle to the degree of vulgarity that some of today's rap is known for. And it seems that the more vulgar, the more kids like it. I'm not just picking on the genre because I don't like it. I have seen first hand how it makes kids act. I have always lived in areas where rap is the main music of choice. You can hear it blaring from people's car radios at red lights and gas stations, just to name a few. What gets me is that people will go in to pay for their gas and actually leave their car on, risking a car jacking, just so they can continuously blare that crap! What is the point of that? Why not pause it? Do they think they are impressing people. Well, I'm sorry but I don't think my kids should have to be exposed to that just on a routine trip to the store.

What gets me is that these rappers, (I can't justify calling them "artists"), don't believe they should be held responsible! If you are in anyway contributing to the demise of our youth, you are responsible. Nicki Minaj was on Ellen one day. When asked about how she felt about her young fan base and the vulgar lyrics of her songs, she said that she's not their parents. She got a huge round of applause for that. Well, I am my kids parent. And I don't let them listen to profane music, but not all parents are like me. No, some parents don't give a flying fart. Especially in my neighborhood. So what does that cause? It causes these elementary school kids to go to school singing these vulgar lyrics. That, in turn, exposes my kids to it.

It's heartbreaking. Kids these days are exposed to more than they should be. I see young teenaged boys walking down my street, sagging their pants, listening to a pair of those now popular huge earphones, singing along with Lil' Wayne or Drake or Gucci Mane and they look so ridiculous. Now I'm not judging. I'm not saying they will grow up to be losers. But I see the adults around here that listen to the same crap and they are losers. They let their babies listen to what they listen to. They are dealing drugs for the whole world to see. They smoke weed right outside like they don't have a care in the world. They just don't care! So it makes you wonder if that's how those teenaged boys are gonna turn out. And that's just in MY neighborhood.

People don't understand that when you listen to negativity you begin to be negative. You think and act negatively. My husband doesn't agree with me on this whole rap thing. But I asked him if these kids listened to positive, uplifting music or even classical, would they be as apt to pull a gun on someone? I don't think so. Our brains are always soaking in information. Even when we don't realize it. It's just like if a child is given nothing but bad feedback in the way that they act, chances are they are gonna either be withdrawn or they will begin to act out.

I can never seem to get my point across on this issue because I get so worked up about it. But I would love your feedback. If you agree or disagree with me, I would like to open this subject up for discussion. If you do agree with me, I implore you to sign my petition to have something done about this music. There has to be a line drawn. If the President can modify our right to bear arms, then our freedom of speech can be modified. I mean, you can't go around threatening to kill people without paying some consequence for it so freedom of speech is already a bit of an illusion. Click the link below to sign:

Keep Our Kids Innocent

You can also write the White House. I did.
Write the President

These kids deserve more than this. We have to be diligent about keeping them kids. We have to be their voice. Especially the teenagers. If you would like an example of some of the crap that is being produced today, look up Lil' Wayne's "Alphabet B*#%hes". It seriously makes me sick.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Don;t forget to subscribe and vote for me on topmommyblogs.com. Just click the banner in the right sidebar and that will count as a vote to get me to the top! Have a fun and safe weekend!

~XoXo Jess