Mommy Glow

Favorite Quote Friday: Maya Angelou

2012-02-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I posted some of my favorite quotes, and I definitely wanted to share this one today:

"I can be changed by what happens to me but

I refused to be reduced by it"

~ Maya Angelou

This quote is so real for me right now more than ever. I've been going through some serious things lately, they've tested my spirit, and it's taken all my strength to continue to move forward...although it is so tempting to go backwards. We all go through things in life, but we all have a choice to make. To be consumed by the negativity, or push past it.

Have a great weekend :)

Get Firm this February with Gaiam TV

2012-02-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

As a busy single working mama, there is just never enough time in the day! Because of my schedule fitness always comes last, which I’m not proud about. I understand the benefits of exercise, but haven’t yet been able to get my butt into gear and dedicate the time necessary to prioritize my health. Enter Gaiam TV! There are some great gyms near me, but they are very expensive, and if I’m not at work then I’m with my daughter, so impossible to get to the gym! Gaiam TV is the first streaming video subscription offering designed to support people interested in health, wellness, yoga, fitness, and personal development. Awesome! With over 2,000 titles, it really is like Netflix or Redbox for health, yoga, and fitness!

I had the opportunity to check out all that Gaiam TV has to offer and I was blown away! I recently had to cancel my On Demand so I no longer have access to fitness videos, and I was so excited about all the titles that were on Gaiam TV. I’ve wanted to get into boxing and was psyched to see a boxing tutorial video with Sugar Ray Leonard & Laila Ali! Viewers can sweat it out with top instructors like Jillian Michaels, Mari Winsor, Rodney Yee, and Kathryn Budig to name a few.

After a long day at work, I swear my brain turns into mush, which is no problem with Gaiam because it’s extremely user friendly and simple to use. Viewers can customize workouts for weight loss, total body sculpting or increased energy and narrow down their options based on level, style, instructor, and amount of available time. Only have time for a short video? No problem. Have more time, no problem! With Gaiam TV, viewers can easily search for videos, make playlists, and preview selections. Plus, subscribers to Gaiam TV are offered the chance to rate and review Gaiam TV titles. This really is customized to fit your needs and meets you where you are in your fitness journey.

This isn’t something that you have to use during certain hours of the day; the entire library of award-winning videos is available anytime, anywhere. So whether you’re home, visiting friends or family, or on vacation, at work, you have access and 24/7 convenience for streaming from your computer, iPad, or smartphone.

Even better is Gaiam TV offers a free 10-day trial to prospective subscribers. Gaiam TV’s $9.95/moth subscription fee allows you to stream unlimited content, without restriction. This no strings attached subscription means that there is no commitment and you can cancel at any time. Click here to take advantage of Gaiam TV’s Free 10-day Trial - No Strings Attached!

How do you make time to exercise? Would you consider using Gaiam TV?

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-01T05:49:00.000-08:00

Me and my baby when she was 6 months old :)

What I’ve learned about myself so far in 2012

2012-01-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

I’m not one to make resolutions at the beginning of a New Year. But in doing self-reflection I knew that I wanted 2012 to be an even better year than 2011. I want this year to be a year of growth where I challenge myself more than ever before. Challenge myself to jump higher and run faster. To leap. To live with reckless abandon. To trust love. To trust myself. To not be afraid to push the limits.

And 25 days into the New Year I can say that I’ve done just that and have learned so much about myself in the process. It’s interesting how situations arise that test you, that test your strength and you have to make a decision. You can go run in a corner and choose to be consumed, or you can strap on your armor and stand with your feet firm. I have been tested, it’s even fair to say I’ve been an emotional roller-coaster (cue Vivian Green’s song) this year.

While I’ve never been one to back away from difficult situations, I usually become an introvert, secluded myself from the world and hidden in a shell. On the exterior seemingly calm and collective, but on the interior a ball of fire. I’ve gotten by like this, but as you can imagine it’s not the ideal situation. But recently I’ve realized that I don’t have all the answers, that when I’m being tested I don’t have to stand alone. I’ve never been comfortable asking for help or sharing a lot of personal information with others, but I realized I can’t carry this load on my own. And I’m glad to say that I was able to look around me and find amazing support from my friends and family these past few weeks. There were no questions, no judgment, just pure concern, encouragement, and love for me and lil mama. It’s been overwhelming and slightly uncomfortable to know that I’ve got so many remarkable people in my corner who truly believe in me and genuinely want what’s best for me and my family.

What I’ve learned 25 days into 2012 is I’m stronger than I think. That when I think I’m backed into a wall, I’m really not, I just have to change my perspective and find another way. That I’ve got an amazing support system that’s there for me no matter what.

That Still I Rise.

New Year’s Resolution #1. Tip the dating scales in your favor!

2012-01-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Sexy singles everywhere are hitting the scene this January with renewed mojo! The holidays are over (for now) and I don’t know about you, but I sure ate one…or two…or three extra sweets I shouldn't have! And that’s why I’m so excited for The Fresh Diet!

The Fresh Diet is the hottest thing around, and it’s extremely doable! No starving yourself or denying yourself dessert! The Fresh Diet is America’s premiere diet delivery service, providing fresh, healthy, calorie portioned meals all right to your door! As a mom on the go, this type of system works so well with my lifestyle, it basically does all the work for me!

We’re not talking semi-fresh here people. We’re talking never processed, vacuum packed, or frozen! These delicious meals are cooked fresh daily in state of the art local kitchens. It’s like having your own personal chef! With hundreds of meals to choose from, you’ll have no problem figuring out what yummy meals you’d like to have! Daily delivery consists of 3 meals and 2 snacks! Yup, that means no cooking, no counting, and no clean up! Could you ask for an easier way to have fresh, nutritionally balanced meals for healthy weight loss? They do say that nutrition is half the battle when it comes to weight loss. If it were up to me, I’d work out all day every day than start dieting! But, how can I pass up The Fresh Diet, it has the taste, the variety, and the convenience!

I’m starting the year right, by trying my complimentary week of The Fresh Diet, and if you start today for just $29.99 per day, you get 3 days free with this special promo code: singlejan3. Visit www.thefreshdiet.com/single to take advantage of this special offer or call 866-FRESH-50 (866-373-7450).

It’s true what they say about confidence…it comes from within. By fueling your body with good for you foods that confidence will exude from you and tip the dating scale in your favor as a single woman seeking. Why? Well because men are attracted to confident women!

The Fresh Diet is my perfect accessory to prepare me for the dating scene after all the holiday parties! Get the edge on your competition by saying YES to FRESH in 2012!!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by The Fresh Diet. All opinions expressed are the blogger's own views not influenced by any outside biases.

I ♥ my Zoya color spoons!!

2012-01-09T17:56:00.000-08:00

Back back back in the blogging zone!! Although I don’t usually post about beauty products I wanted to give it a shot because I’m a product-a-holic and I love love my new Zoya color spoons! I don’t get my nails done that often professionally, but like having my nails looking fresh, which means I do at home manis with lil mama weekly. As a result I’ve become a bit of a nail polish junkie! I heard about Zoya via twitter and was excited to learn more about them from their website. They have a gazillion shades to choose from, I felt like a kid in a candy store browsing through the website!

Zoya Nail Polish is a nail polish free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. Nail Polish by Zoya offers over 300 gorgeous nail polish colors to choose from, plus 4 seasonal collections of nail polish every year. Awesome!!!

The only downfall is that I couldn’t find a retailer near me so had to order online, which made me a little nervous. So I was thrilled when I found out about their color spoons! It’s Zoya’s version of trying before you buy! I loved the idea and ordered 10 spoons! I mean they were only $0.50 AND the spoons ship free via ground shipping! Winning!!! Oh and wait, it gets better….as soon as you are invoiced for the price of your spoons you are also send a promo code for a discount in the amount equal to the amount you spent on spoons to be taken against your next order! See why I love these color spoons!!!

I was delighted to get them in the mail; they were great quality and came packed beautifully and professionally. The color spoons make so much sense and it was great to get to see them up to my nail and see how they worked with my complexion.

It’s hard to choose a favorite, I really love them all!! But with the spoons I was able to compare what I bought to colors I already have in my collection, which was a great great. Since getting them last week I’ve already made an order with them for full bottles of polish!!!

What’s your favorite brand of nail polish? Would you try Zoya's color spoons?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

What we can learn from the Grinch

2011-12-22T18:08:00.000-08:00

“And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

My daughter and I have already watched the Grinch (the original & Jim Carrey’s version) about six or seven times already this December. I think there is much to be learned from the Grinch’s story and Cindy Loo Hoo, who despite the community’s fear and disgust with the Grinch, decided that he wasn’t so different from them all after all.

I love the passage above the most from the book, for me it’s a friendly reminder of what the holidays, and Christmas is all about. As a young professional and single mother, the holidays are extremely stressful and I worry about money and being able to get my daughter a few nice things. And then there are my nieces. And my sisters. And my Mom. And my co-workers. And a few close friends. Ahhh!! It’s overwhelming because I like to give meaningful nice gifts to those I care about…and they often carry hefty price tags. And every year I end up in debt over the holidays, regardless of the budget I create for myself. It’s easy to get caught up in the holidays, and I’m guilty of forgetting what the holidays really mean to me and my family. My daughter and I spend Christmas Eve and Christmas together, just the two of us, making cookies and watching movies, and dancing of course. And it’s those moments: setting out cookies and milk for Santa, and when I tuck her in to bed Christmas Eve night that reminds me of what Christmas is all about.

I often doubt my ability to provide for all my daughter’s needs and wants being a single mom. I’m spread t-h-i-n and I have to sacrifice on a daily basis. Christmas isn’t about the gifts; it isn’t about shopping till I drop. It’s about the memories, it’s about love. Under the tree will be full, heck my whole house will be full of Christmas spirit this year because I am blessed; I have a beautiful, happy, kind, healthy child who I am crazy about. She inspires me, she makes me laugh, and she may be the wisest person I know. She is my gift every single day. And that’s not something you can buy in a store.

Happy Holidays from our hearts to yours

How to Talk to Little Girls

2011-12-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, who is a mother of 2 daughters, forwarded me this article titled How to Talk to Little Girls featured in The Huffington Post. The article by Lisa Bloom talks about girls & self image and how we as parents and adults play into girl’s self-esteem. Think for a second about your encounters with girls, do you comment on their hair or outfit? Are you quick to tell them how cute they are? (slumps down in seat).

Lisa says, "Teaching girls that their appearance is the first thing you notice tells them that looks are more important than anything. It sets them up for dieting at age 5 and foundation at age 11 and boob jobs at 17 and Botox at 23. As our cultural imperative for girls to be hot 24/7 has become the new normal”

Not good!! The article was enlightening to me; it made me take a hard look at how I interact with my own daughter as well as little girls I come across. I realize that I often comment little girls on their new haircut or sparkly tights. And while I never saw anything wrong with it, I am becoming more aware of how these constant comments can affect a girl’s self-esteem and expectations.

My friend Marlene who forwarded me the article had this to say after reading:

“It really opened my eyes to how I interact with my girls and other young children their age. I mean I am definitely one of those people that use compliments as an ice breaker with kids like "wow, you look beautiful in that dress" and even with boys "he look so handsome in that outfit" etc. And I also thought showering my girls with compliments like these would build their self confidence, but it's actually counter-productive because now thinking back I can recall instances where my own daughter would get dressed and ask ‘Mom, do I look pretty in this dress?, Does my hair look nice like this?’ I always say of course you look great no matter what.....BUT now I realize that she was seeking my approval. I want my girls' self confidence to be based on who they are and what they know and not how they look. I guess all we can do I acknowledge this and try to break the cycle. At least I do.”

This article made me think of a previous post of mine titled Does this diaper make my butt look big. In the article I talked about the poison that are Bratz dolls and how more and more kids are concerned with their image, when they should just be concerned about being kids! Raising a healthy and confident daughter is extremely important to me, and I know that in order to achieve this it takes a lot of patience and conversations with her. Though it seems that society is completely against my desires, promoting the complete opposite of role-models and putting so much pressure onto image.

Did you read the article by Lisa Bloom? How do you counteract society’s fascination with image when interacting with your own daughter or girls you may know?

Favorite Quote Friday

2011-12-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted new quotes recently, my apologies! My posting is a bit sporadic, as life has changed ALOT recently, and I'm trying to do better!

I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
~Edward Everett Hale

This week's quote speaks to my core...I am committed to helping someone... somewhere.... somehow. And I believe we all have a responsibility to make this world a better place. And this is why I give, this is why I volunteer. We all have the ability to do something...even though we are just one.

Happy Friday

ROCKETTES Boston Christmas Spectacular Giveaway Winner Announced!!

2011-12-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER: BRANDON! Happy Holidays & Enjoy the show!!

--
I am still in awe from watching the Rockettee’s Friday at the Wang. I have to admit prior to the show I wasn’t in a very jolly mood…the holidays, and especially Christmas, tend to stress me out to the max. Walking into the show I wasn’t sure what to expect, and by the time the red curtains closed my jaw was on the floor. The show was ah-ma-zing!! And the Rockettee’s sure did deliver their signature leg kicks! From the glitz and glamour to the props and singing the show was DYNAMIC, we all had a blast!!! I’m happy to announce a 25% discount to the Rockette’s Christmas Spectacular AND a GIVEAWAY to the Wednesday December 28^th show!!! Details below:

For any non-peak show below, I am offering a 25% discount code!!

Select a NON Peak Performance between Sat, Dec 7^th – Dec 28^th for your 25% off discount:


12/2/2011 at 8 pm	12/16/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/3/2011 at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm	12/17/2011 at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm
12/4/2011 at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm	12/18/2011 at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm
12/7/2011 at 2 pm	12/20/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm
12/8/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm	12/21/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm
12/9/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm	12/22/2011 at 5 pm, 8 pm
12/10/2011 at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm	12/23/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm
12/11/2011 at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm	12/26/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/13/2011 at 7:30 pm	12/27/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/14/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm	12/28/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/15/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm

Bolded Performances = Peak Pricing/no Discount

Enter Promo Code: ROXMOM11
*Offer is not valid for Gold Circle - $130 seats, for which there are no discounts. There is a 8 ticket limit on this event.
Pricing Peak Non-Peak
Orchestra (Pit & Rows A-D): $130.00 $130.00
Orchestra (Rows E-O center): $99.00 $89.00
Orchestra (Rows E-O sides, P-EE): $83.00 $73.00

Mezzanine: $83.00 $73.00

Balcony (Rows E-J): $83.00 $73.00
Balcony (Rows K-S): $74.00 $64.00
Balcony (Rows T-Z): $58.00 $48.00
Balcony (Rows AA-FF): $29.00 $25.00

Prices include a $3.00 Facility Fee.

You can purchase tickets by visiting: www.citicenter.org/radiocity and using promo code ROXMOM11. Offer is not valid for Gold Circle - $130 seats - 8 ticket limit.

Deets on the show:

This holiday season, THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR® starring THE WORLD-FAMOUS ROCKETTES® returns to Boston… and if you’ve never seen it before, this is DEFINITELY the year to go! Playing the City Performing Arts Center-Wang Theatre Friday December 2^nd – Wednesday, Dec 28^th!

This year’s show features brand-new scenes and songs, spectacular new sets, dazzling new costumes, an amazing 50-foot LED screen, and an unforgettable new finale! You’ll marvel at the incredible precision dancing of The Rockettes® in beloved scenes like the legendary “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and the stunning reenactment of the first Christmas in the “Living Nativity.” And you’ll adore the new number “Christmas in New York,” featuring a chorus of Broadway-style singers and a life-sized double-decker bus! This year, through new technology and jaw-dropping new special effects, Christmas becomes more magical than ever before!

Now for the GIVEAWAY! One lucky reader wins 4 tickets to the Wednesday December 28^th performance at 5pm AND a MEET & GREET before the show with the ROCKETTTEE’S!!!

Mandatory Entry – Leave a comment below and tell me who you’d bring to the show!

Additional Entries: (Please leave a new comment for each extra entry)

1. Follow Mommy Glow on Facebook

2. Follow me on Twitter - @MsAlexandraV

3. Tweet about this giveaway (1 tweet daily – leave link): Enter to win 4 tix to the #Boston Rockette’s Christmas Spectacular from @MsAlexandraV ends 12.9 http://bit.ly/vTvDKm #Giveaway

4. Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall

5. Follow Mommy Glow via Google Friend Connect

*Contest ends Friday December 9^th at 4pm!! After winners are announced they have 24 hours to contact me.

*Winner will be chosen by Random.org. Tickets will be available at the Will Call at the Wang on the evening of the show.

If you are in Boston I highly encourage you to enter! It’s a remarkable show, suited for those young and old! Be prepared to break out into kicking after you watch the performance!

Disclosure: I received four tickets. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.

Are we promoting the idea that love comes without responsibility?

2011-11-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

Raising a daughter, especially alone, I am very aware of the messages I am sending her by what I say and do, and what I don’t say and do. Co-parenting has its struggles, and one of them includes comforting your child when the co-parent isn’t around. Mommy, where is daddy? Why isn’t daddy around? Is Daddy working? Mommy, WHEN is Daddy coming? There is no worse feeling for me as a Mother to see my precious daughter sitting at the window, peeking through the blinds just waiting for her father’s car to pull up…but never does. My heart breaks, and as furious as it makes me, I clench my fists for a minute, then calmly soothe my daughter’s anxiety and tell her that her daddy loves her very much and is going to see her very soon.

But, something hasn’t been adding up for a while. I often wonder how she processes what I am saying and the actions (or lack thereof) of her father. He is clearly not around consistently, but I am assuring her that he loves her. But again…he is not around. I have begun feeling like I am promoting the idea that love comes without responsibility. I am afraid that these mixed messages are actually just confusing her more. I wonder how this will affect her in the future, and it makes me scared.

While our experiences have been different, I shared my concerns with the fabulous Natasha Vianna, a fellow blogger and friend. She is also raising a young daughter on her own, and I wanted her perspective on the idea of promoting love without responsibility.

Much like Alexandra, I feel overwhelmed with sadness and anger when my daughter’s tears are provoked by her father’s lack of presence. I also realize that I have played a major role in setting her up for a possible disaster. Whether she heard conversations over the phone I had with him or saw how frustrated I became when he didn’t show. She emulated a lot of how I felt. She saw my facial expression and my disappointment even though I tried to mask my anger. As a mother, the last thing I wanted was to have her little heart feel broken when I’d have to tell her that her dad wasn’t going to show up today.

A lot of that changed when I accepted that her father was never going to be my definition of an amazing dad. Instead of pushing for more, I realized that I would have to settle for what was 100% achievable now and work my way from there. So that meant only Sundays for them. Her father could guarantee his presence and I could guarantee her availability. And so it began. No tears. No sadness.

I also feel like a lot of what I want for my daughter is directly related to my experience as a child with my father. I grew up with a dad who only saw me once a week on Sundays. I’m sure there were times when he canceled, came late, or dropped us off early, but I really don’t remember. In my teen years I didn’t get along with him, then he became my best friend for a while. But what teenager always gets along with her dad? I told him how I truly felt about him sometimes and it hurt him. And my daughter will have that opportunity too. Her father can one day feel guilty for not being more involved, or maybe he won’t. He’s only being the father that he knows how to be. Do I support it? No. All I can do is support my daughter, how she’s feeling and tell her that it’s completely okay to feel the way she does. It’s not my job to mold a man.

Although I don’t want to promote love without responsibility, I also don’t want to promote love as a duty. I don’t want to define love for her. Love shouldn’t feel forced. If I force her dad to see her when he’s not mentally or emotionally capable, I’m only setting her up for more pain. She will sense the turmoil and feel like a burden in his life. I cannot expect her dad to make a huge flip overnight and decide to take her for more than one day a week, be completely consistent and reliable if he’s never been that before. He has to want that and he has to make that change on his own.

Until then, I give my child the best love a mother can, ensure she spends time with my dad who serves as a positive male, father-figure role and encourage her to be more vocal about her feelings when she’s with her dad. I empower her to understand that she deserves the best love in the world and she has so many different variations of it – close love from mom and distant love from dad. It’s tough but my sole responsibility is raising a happy child.

Visit Natasha's blog HERE

The Choose Health Challenge Sponsored By BistroMD

2011-10-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

To say living healthy lifestyle is a challenge is an understatement. As a single working mom, it’s hard to ensure that I’m taking all the necessary steps to live a healthy lifestyle not only for myself, but my daughter as well. We have fallen victim far too many times to grabbing something on the run which is always unhealthy. Committing to living a healthy life is hard, and I have tried a lot of different programs to help me lose weight and tone up. Everyone says that your diet is key, and as I learn more and more about the items I consume, I couldn’t agree more with this statement.

But, I’m glad to say that I have committed to living a healthy lifestyle not only for myself, but for my daughter as well. I have to start practicing what I preach. I make it a priority to ensure that my daughter is eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, and I need to start applying the same principles to my own life. It’s amazing how one seemingly small change can lead to a lifetime of healthy choices. My small step has been to eat breakfast. I’ve never been a fan before, but I realized by the time lunch came around I was devouring everything! Not good. So usually on Sundays I boil 6-8 eggs to have in the morning along with some almonds and/or baby carrots. I never desire a huge portion, so having a small breakfast really works well for me.

I was excited to hear about BistoMD’s new “Choose Health” challenge. BistroMD delivers meals for a lighter, healthier you. Every meal is hand-prepared by chefs and provides lean adequate protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fat ratios to support healthy weight loss. They use quality, natural ingredients without hormones, added fillers and unnecessary additives or preservatives. This means no MSG, no Trans Fats, just delicious meals that are good for you. I can dig it!!

To join in on this amazing challenge visit www.facebook.com/bistromd and tell them how you’ll challenge yourself to start living healthy. If committing to a healthy lifestyle wasn’t enough, you can also win great prizes like a week of healthy weight loss meals, an iPad2, or a $500 shopping spree or cash! So run, don’t walk over to their page!! In addition BistroMD.com is offering FREE Shipping on your first week of meals. Simply Use Discount Code: ChooseHealth at checkout.

Have you committed to living a healthy life? If so, what small steps are you taking to help reach your goals?

Happy Healthy Living!!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by BistroMD , opinions expressed are the blogger's own views not influenced by any outside biases.

Raising a child without a village

2011-10-24T19:29:00.000-07:00

We’ve all heard the phrase it takes a village to raise a child. Having support when raising a child is crucial, and I know many people who rely on a village to assist in raising their family. It could be their immediate family, extended family, spouse, parents, or friends. These are the people that have your whole back, who are there for you and your family. You here about all the wonderful benefits of having a village, but what happens this village doesn't exist for you and your family?

I read a lot of posts talking about the wonderful support people have in their lives, and I sink down in my seat. It’s no secret I’m a single parent, but beyond myself I’m the only one around consistently caring for my child. The dynamics of my immediate family have changed, and though I wish it weren’t the case, they are no longer a phone call away. I was frustrated last weekend because I wanted to go for a run Saturday morning…and had no one to call. Sure, I could hire a sitter, but that’d swallow more of the money I don’t have. Maybe it’s my pride; I don’t love asking for help. Part of me expects the people who claim to care for my daughter and I to step up and make more of an effort to be part of her life.

While it would be great to get out once in awhile, that’s not my reason for desiring a village. I view a village as a safety net. You know the trust fall we did back in high school. I want to close my eyes, fall back, and know I won’t hit the ground. Trusting in united hands to support not only me, but my daughter as well.

Have I tried to build up my village? Of course. But, something is missing. Something big. I am doing my best, but I wonder how great I’d be doing if I had a village behind me.

Bracing For Impact

2011-10-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

One of the wonderful and unexpected joys of motherhood I have experienced is the wisdom I pick up on from my daughter. That’s right, I learn from my 6 year old daughter. I learn that timeouts are good for relaxing and that farting gives you energy! Lol. But, really, I am so taken by her imagination, her creativity, and her amazingly giving heart. She inspires me daily.

This weekend I took her roller-skates out for some fun. I wouldn’t let her leave the house without the proper safety precautions – helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves. Once she was strapped in we set off. She held my hand for most of our time outside (even though she didn’t want too) but I did let her skate on her own as I stood back and almost had a heart attack. That was my baby, and my responsibility was to protect her from harm. If I could help her avoid hurting herself then I had too…right? Instead I took a step back. Even though she was nervous, she skated (not too fast) and flashed her million dollar smile as she was becoming more confident on her skates. And off she went. She wobbled and even fell once, but she got back up, dusted herself off, and skated some more.

I *knew* she could skate on her own, but I wanted to do everything I could to ensure she was safe. This got me thinking how much I spend my life bracing for impact, just waiting for something to happen. As a single parent, I don’t have much room to spread my wings and fly. The amount of responsibility I have is enormous, I have a child who needs and depends on me, and me only. So because of this, there is little room for error in my eyes. But, my precious daughter taught me another important lesson, one that I may have known, but have forgotten. As much as you try to protect yourself, and avoid potentially unsafe situations, there are some things you cannot avoid. When you choose to live your life always bracing for impact, you miss these crucial experiences that help shape you. No one is perfect, and I am sure far from it. You may fall, you may hurt yourself, but you don’t have to stay there. You get back up and go forward, you keep trying, you keep living.

Update: Where Have I Been?

2011-10-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, and Happy October! Hope this finds you all well and enjoying the Fall! I love this time of year and seeing the leaves change and running through piles of leaves with my daughter! I haven’t blogged since August! Yikes! But, I took a hiatus for good reason! Below you can find a list of things I've been up too since August:

1. I graduated from COLLEGE!!! (more on that in another post!)

2. My daughter turned 6 (yay!!)

3. I turned 26 (ewww)

4. I seriously have considered up and moving to South America for a year to tap into my latina side

5. I’m contemplating taking the steps to become a Kindergarten Teacher

6. Looking into Grad schools

7. Because of #5 and #6 I have thought maybe I was going crazy insane

8. Went on 3 interviews with the 1^st company I sent my resume too…but didn’t get the job *insert sad face*

So I’ve been keeping busy busy busy….as always!! Funny, how I thought life was going to s-l-o-w down once I graduated, but definitely not the case. As much as I hate to admit it, I work best when I have a zillion things to do. I sorta feel like I’m drifting now, trying to get a handle on life post-graduation and like almost all College grad’s trying to figure out what the hell I’m gonna do with the rest of my life!! Which has proven to be not a simple task.

So, what did I miss? What updates do you have to share??

Buckle Up PSA - Must Watch!

2011-08-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

My co-worker showed me this PSA at work last week. She prefaced it by saying every time she watches it she cries...so I wasn't sure what to expect. But, what I saw was a brilliantly simple inspirational PSA that should remind us all to always always always buckle up. We all need a reminder sometimes.

I often wonder how so many people choose not to buckle up for no good reason. Just as I wonder why bikers and people on motorcycles choose to put themselves directly in dangers way by not wearing helmets. Every time I look or even think about my daughter, she reminds me of how important it is to practice safety when I'm in a car. I want to see her grow. I want to see her graduate. I want to see her bloom into a woman.

So, I choose to buckle up.

Babysitter = Stranger = Panic Attack

2011-07-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

If you follow the blog, you may know that I don’t have a tight support system. Sorta just me, myself, and my divalicious daughter. It’s been hard to accept, and at times I get down, but at the end of the day it is what it is and we are family and I’m so lucky to have her.

Everyone who knows me knows that I live, breathe, eat, and sleep being a Mother. She is my life. For real. It definitely gets overwhelming not having any support, and I sometimes think I’m over my head, but I somehow manage to pull it all together. I've considered hiring an occasional babysitter to come to our home once a week for a few hours in the evenings to watch lil mama so I can go for a run or go to the library. Yes, you heard that right, I don’t want to hit the town or socialize, I want to be boring. Don’t judge.

But, honestly, the thought of a stranger caring for lil mama makes me have an asthma and panic attack all in one with a side of hives. Yes, call me paranoid, call me dramatic, but I get n-e-r-v-o-u-s. I’ve gotten some responses, and if I think there is potential I google/facebook/myspace their name or email. Not kidding. Any inappropriate pictures or language or funny smile and I hit the SPAM button with the quickness, cause homie don’t play that. The protective Mom inside me wants a complete background check, fingerprints, need to see if they’ve been arrested. Not kidding. Sigh. And then what they charge an hour! I mine as well just stay my butt home!! Oh well, it was a good thought, but this process has reaffirmed my thoughts that I’m not ready to hire a stranger to come in my home to watch my daughter.

Have you hired a babysitter before? Would you hire a babysitter? If you have, how have you calmed uneasy nerves about a stranger watching your child(ren)? Am I overreacting?

Shop Black Friday deals in July on Target.com !

2011-07-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Black Friday in the middle of July? You heard right: some of the year’s best deals aren’t just for Thanksgiving week anymore, thanks to the folks at Target.com.

Target.com is planning another “Back in Black Friday” online summer sale this Friday on Target.com/BlackFriday, offering up to 50% off more than 1,500 items, from approximately midnight (PST) to 11:59 p.m. (PST). There are limited quantities at these prices, so the earlier you log on, the better.

You don’t have to be one of those super-early, organized holiday shoppers to be into this sale (hello, we’re only in the middle of July, after all). You just need to like a good old-fashioned bargain…and who doesn’t.

To find out which popular products the site will feature at steep sale prices, join their official “Tweet Peek” launching today: the “tweet” button on Target.com/BlackFriday will be the key to revealing some of the sale’s biggest deals. The images for each of the top three deals will begin to de-blur as the number of tweets increases. Once the tweet button reaches 500 for each deal, the images will be revealed.

In other words, the more we all visit the page and click the button, the faster we’ll see the best steals before the sale starts.

Time to get that mouse-clicking finger warmed up and ready…Friday, here we come!

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for a Kitchen-Aid mixer, what about you?

Favorite Quote Friday

2011-07-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

My apologies for not posting regularly, I am hoping to change that. I came across the quote below yesterday and it rang so true for me. I laugh in the face of uncertainty.

“If you want me to do something… tell me I can’t do it.”

-Maya Angelou

Have a great weekend.

Together Counts Twitter Party

2011-06-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

Together Counts: Across the country, families and their children are pledging to become more active and healthy together. They’re eating meals with each other; they’re being physically active together. We’re helping them track their progress.

I was delighted to be asked by Leah Segedie, the woman behind Mamavation, to become a panelist on the Together Counts Twitter Party tomorrow. I’ve participated in a few twitter parties before, and for those of you who haven’t they move fast! I mean so fast! But it’s a fantastic way to connect with tweppole and there are often prizes to those who participate!

I’m really excited to be a panelist, because Together Counts is pretty awesome. They are a nationwide program inspiring active and healthy living. The principle behind their program is Energy Balance, which means balancing the calories we consume with the calories we burn. Calories in, calories out. It’s that simple. Together Counts was started by The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a CEO–led organization, that is a national, multi-year effort designed to help reduce obesity–especially childhood obesity–by 2015.

Join us Tuesday, June 14th from 8-10pm EST as we celebrate Together Counts, a fantastic program that encourages families to get more activity and eat meals together as a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. The key is doing it together!! I made the pledge and you should too!

To participate in the twitter party be sure to use the #togethercounts hastag! To find out more about the twitter party (and awesome prizes you can win like a $200 gift certificate to Sports Authority) click HERE!

Hope to see you tomorrow!

AOL & Jeep ® “Life is Legendary” Campaign

2011-06-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

What inspires you? This is the question I was asked in reference to the Life Is Legendary campaign that AOL & Jeep® are running. The mission of this campaign is to connect with single ladies like myself and express that single women are marvelous pioneers living inspired lives, and living life on their own terms, embracing their womanhood and freedom.

So, what inspires me? What inspires me to live a legendary life?

The first things I think of are my daughter, my freedom, my nation’s history, beautiful art, and satisfying music. Going deeper, my own experiences inspire me daily to press forward and keep moving. It would have been too easy to have given up at this point. To accept the little voice inside my head that keeps ranting you can’t! I’ve fallen victim to the voice before, but I’ve kept moving, grasping my dreams one by one. Being able to go through the wondrous miracle of being able to give life to a child, I realized that I would be doing my daughter a disservice if I merely existed in this world. That wasn’t enough. I wanted to live. I want to live.

Selfless people who have given their time and often their lives to help others inspire me. Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, and Ella Baker to name a few. Reading about their journey, about the severe challenges they faced, knowing that they were change makers using nonviolent means, all to make this world a better place for myself and my child, makes me grind harder. I’m not in this life to be a cheerleader on the sideline; I’m in it to win it. Go hard, or go home.

What inspires you to live a legendary life? I encourage you all to upload your own Inspiration Board by clicking HERE. AOL & Jeep® have created this custom destination where you’ll be able to develop an Inspiration Board online outlining everything you represent and what you aspire to be. Everyone who engages in the above site will be entered for a chance to win a random sweepstakes rewarding a weekly $50 gift-card, and all users have the opportunity to win the Grand Prize: a $4,500 gift-card!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by AOL & Jeep® , opinions expressed are the blogger's own views not influenced by any outside biases.

Who’s got your WHOLE back?

2011-05-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well…who? I was having a conversation with a friend about ridding myself of toxic people, but that in doing have become a bit lonely. She brought up a great point of understanding that the various “friends” in our lives fill various roles, but few people have your whole back.

What do I mean? Looking through my phone right now there are a total of 2 people I can call at any time for any reason who I know will listen to me and also not just tell me what I want to hear, but give it to me straight, no chaser. Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of people, but I’m not quick to call someone my friend right off the bat.

But then I’m like damn, really only 2 people? But see, I don’t confuse friendship with loyalty. I guess I just know where my “friends” fit into my life. Not everyone is willing to support you through the good, the bad, and the ugly. These 2 ride-or-die friends that I have are not parents. But they understand the various struggles I face being a younger single mom, working fulltime and going to school and trying to have a social life. They don’t try to put me in a box. They see potential and inspiration through my chaos.

It’s these people I am able to open up completely with, and that’s rare for me. I’ve had a lot of issues with dishonesty and trust in previous friendships, which makes it very hard for me to reach out and make connections.

There are many people that support me…but it’s only to an extent. And I’ve had to learn to accept that, and as a result I don’t have a great with them. I’m glad to say that I have genuine people around me who will stand by me no matter what, but it’s bittersweet. I look back at all the friendships that I’ve had, that never reached full bloom. I get caught up over it every now and again, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

You know that phrase: People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person. Mmhmm! Not everyone friendship we have will blossom.

So, who’s got your WHOLE back? For me it isn’t any of my family members or childhood friends. It’s my earthy-crunchy co-worker who is my complete opposite. And the second is my Ex, who still remains my closest male friend to this day. I appreciate them, and as much as they support me, I’m there to support them.

It’s great that I’m able to cross paths with such diverse people, but at the end of the day it’s about quality over quantity when it comes to friendships. Well, to me at least.

Hanging up my SuperMom Cape

2011-05-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

I doubt my parenting skills often. Been doubting myself ever since the first day I brought my daughter home. I was all by myself with a 2 day old newborn. Those 6lbs 14.5oz wanted nothing more than to be loved. And I have tried my best to shower her with love and affection every single day. I have promised not to be like the Mom in the mall yesterday who slapped her 3 year old son across the face.

I know that life is full of ups and downs. Yesterday was a major down, and as a result I’m hanging up my SuperMom cape. My daughter who is 5½ was having a hard day after school. She was getting easily frustrated and whining a lot. When we finally got home she settled down a bit, and then went back to the whining. I firmly asked her to go to her room [something I never do], she looks over at me and says Mommy, I don’t want to live with you anymore, I wanna live with Daddy. My jaw dropped. I sat there starting at her for a good 5 minutes in shock, then again asked her to go to her room. As soon as she left the living room tears started flowing. Me, Mama, the most consistent person in her life. She really wants to just push me aside?

Mama who is always there for her to put a band-aid on an invisible scratch.

Mama who is there at every swimming glass grinning in pride at the edge of the pool.

Mama who dances and sings with her in the living room every evening.

Mama who is snuggled next to her every night.

Mama who is there at every parent-teacher conference, every pot-luck, every school event.

Mama who grinds.every.single.day for her.

Mama who juggles being a fulltime student and fulltime employee, to make her life better.

Mama who has no social life, so I can be present and available for her every need.

Mama, whose number one priority is to love and support her.

Yes my daughter is only 5, and I know that she loves me, and that our bond is rock solid. Those tears flowed because for so long I have puffed out my chest and worn this SuperMom cape, so sure that single handedly I could provide for her every mental, emotional, and physical need. Shielding her away from toxic people and protecting her from harm. In that moment staring at her I realized that I can’t do it all, regardless of how hard I grind and how much I sacrifice.

As I was bawling on the couch, my friend who had witnessed everything went in and talked with her. She was able to communicate what she was feeling. She missed her Dad, and didn’t know why he wasn’t around all the time. Didn’t know why he said he would come and then didn’t. She was acting out because she was frustrated and didn’t know how to tell me. My heart b-r-o-k-e, because I cannot be her Mother and Father. I have juggled this single parent thing, and tried to overcompensate for being the only adult in the home. My heart broke because I have tried to shield her from constant inconsistency, but it hasn’t worked. I’ve tried to redirect her sadness, and try to fill the void he’s left. She’s a kid, I thought, she’ll bounce back. But, she hasn’t, and this is why I hang up my SuperMom cape.

So SuperMom cape, I retire you. You are tired and worn, and need a break. I’m only human; I can only do so much. And while I never think my best is good enough, it has to be enough, because it’s all I have.

Support Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating A Career by The Young Mommy Life

2011-05-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Being a young parent has created its challenges and struggles. There are many days when I just want to throw the rag in and call it quits. I wonder if all my hard work will ever really pay off.

Enter blogger Tara from The Young Mommy Life.

I “met” Tara last year when I first began Mommy Glow. I didn’t really know where my voice fit in the virtual world. When I came across her and her site, I was like wow. Here is a young woman, a young mom, who is out there hustling, making moves, and creating a forum for other young parents to talk about the experiences us young parents encounter.

Tara has become not only my friend, but my personal cheerleader as well. She’s not someone asking me how I’m doing to be nice. She asks because she truly cares and wants to help in whatever way she can. She’s always been there for me, to help support me in my times of need. To help listen to me when I need to vent. All the way from Ohio she is a vital member of my support system.

And now I want to be there for Tara, and her recently published e-book called: Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating A Career You Crave available on Amazon for $5.99. I am so inspired by Tara’s go-getter attitude and her continuous positivity. She is a real inspiration to young mommies everywhere.

I was able to ask Tara more about Make It Happen and why this is a must read for all young parents, and below is what she had to say:

I decided to write a book about career and money first (as opposed to the "sexier" topics of relationships, body image and all that) because a good chunk of our day-to-day life revolves around money. For a lot of us, being a stay-at-home mom isn't really an option - even if that's what we long to do. So we go to work to support our families the best way we know how. Our jobs may not pay that much or we might just really feel like our job is sucking the soul right out of us. But we don't want to complain because that job is putting food in our babies' mouth. Right?

I wanted to tell other young parents what I've learned over the past couple years - that we own our future. Too often we feel like we're scrambling, playing catch-up, but the truth is, we've got just the right combination of factors - youth, motivation, drive, the new digital age that allows us to contact anyone anywhere - that makes success more than just a strong possibility for us.

We CAN have a career that is of our making that allows us to pay the bills and then some, that gives us a daily dose of happiness. If it sounds like poppycock to you, let me just say: I'm living it now. Other moms I know are either there or well on their way.

In the book, I help you find your passion, learn to budget so you make the most of the money you earn, and give you 20 ideas for side hustles you can start TODAY for little or no money. Once we get financially empowered, it makes all the big decisions - where we live, what we eat, where our kids go to school - so much easier to make. I hope once people finish reading, they're ready to make that next step in their career - whether it's reaching out to someone they admire or setting up their own website/portfolio (I cover both items in the book).

I’m proud to know Tara, and uber proud of her publishing her 1^st e-book Make It Happen. I plan to read it this weekend, and hope you all take the time to download the e-book and write a review.

Let's show her some support!