2011 Cheering Season Finished

This past weekend was the last weekend for cheering competitions. Now the cheering season is over. Olivia wasn't sure she wanted to be in cheering. After she started, she only wanted to cheer for football. I told her to give the competition part a chance and so she did. SHE LOVES IT!

The squad received trophies, medals and engraved plaques so CJ put a shelf in her room for all her cheering stuff.

Traveling Alone

For anyone who travels alone, please consider looking into an air ambulance service simply so you are prepared. This way, you can be sure you will get to the best medical facility - one that you want, not whichever place is closest to where you are.

Traveling alone is scary enough; traveling alone without a plan for the best case scenario as well as the worst is just plain dumb.

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

My littlest little is 5 years old today

Awww, My Handsome Boy!

Fall school pictures came back a week or so ago. Picture day was the day the kids went back to school after we returned home from Disney. Dante's teacher emailed me to let me know and then mailed the order form to the house so he went back to school prepared. Olivia's teacher didn't give me a head's up and because they are in different schools (K and 1st grade are in one school, 2-6 in another) I wasn't sure if it was picture day for her or not - so she will have hers retaken.

Anyway, here is Dante's Kindergarten picture; he is so handsome!!! Look at those eyes and that smile!

It's difficult to tell in the photo, but he has beautiful long eyelashes too. I wish I did! Guess I better get to reading eyelash growth product reviews so I can find a product that will force my eyelashes into being that long!

He picked out the shirt for the picture. He LOVES LOVES LOVES his "Hawaiian" shirt! 

Job Opportunities for Moms with Young Kids

If you have small children at home you are probably torn between going back to work and staying home; I know there was a time when I was feeling that way. I read a really interesting article the other day that talked about how more and more women are getting involved in owning franchises.

A franchise is an excellent option for stay at home or work at home moms. Here is the great thing about franchise opportunities; they provide the product, marketing, and structure for success. They have done it in other locations and have perfected the process. It is up to you to manage it.

If a franchise opportunity is the route you might like to take, as a mother, consider some type of kids’ franchise. After all, most moms have excellent ideas regarding kids that no one else could have ever dreamed up!

Seems there are so many women who run beauty shops out of their home and now they want to go big time with it! I know many people who do hair on the side, out of their home. In fact, my hairdresser does just that. She has a full time job but does hair in her spare time. I am lucky in that she comes to my house to do my hair, lol. However, if she did not have a full time ob and wanted to make this her full time job, becoming franchise owner might be a great idea!

Olivia's First Cheering Competition

The first cheering competition was held at NHS so the girls did not compete, they did perform though, exhibition style. Since they didn't compete, they did not wear their cheering uniform but instead wore a spirit outfit :) They looked cute :)

There is another competition this Saturday and she is so excited (so am I) because they will be competing!! YAY!! GO MINIS!

Cutting Down On My Wardrobe With a Minimalist Goal

Guest post written by Sidney Collins

I've come to realize over the past few years that I really go for just a few different classic styles whenever I'm putting together an outfit. I guess that I shouldn't be too surprised about it though because I know what i like and I've really come to develop my personal style. So my wardrobe needed a bit of a makeover to reflect that personal style.

I have a minimalist personal style so I thought that it would be good if my wardrobe reflected that. While I was online looking at some tips on achieving that wardrobe and streamline the pieces that I already had, I ran across some info on direct tv internet. After I looked through it a little bit I decided to change over my home service to the provider that it talked about.

I was pretty excited about my new minimalist wardrobe that reflects my personal style. Besides, what good is a closet if you can't find all of the stuff that you really want to wear in it? No good, is what I say.

I Am Now Mrs. Independent Mom

The Thursday before Halloween CJ and I decided we wanted to make our relationship "official" (okay, so it had mostly to do with tax benefits and insurance) so we went to City Hall and paid $50.00 for a marriage license. We waited the mandatory full 3 days and got married on Halloween by the District Magistrate in town. ($39.50) and we couldn't be happier.

I took the kids out of school an hour early so they could be part of the ceremony. They were super excited.

My mom, her boyfriend Frank, my grandma, and the kids were the only ones present for the ceremony.

Afterwards we went out to dinner where CJ and I got cards and money! Hey, we didn't get extravagant gifts like a citizen watch or personalized women's jewelry, but we got money and that is always welcome!