Facebook, It's Been Fun, But Maybe I'm Done

I was one of those users who got started on Facebook when it was strictly for college kids. You had to have a .edu e-mail address to sign up, and it was one of those places where it was just fun to hang around and wasn't as cluttering and dumb downed as Myspace.

Now that everyone and their moms have Facebook, especially my mom, she's all over Facebook commenting, posting, tagging..... a little frustrating....

I've been on Facebook for so long and have been on it recently just checking out some stuff, when I realized...... This is just a tad bit silly. I mean, who wants to know that you're stressed out at the grocery store, or that your so happy/angry/frustrated/elated about your husband. Does anyone really care where I am checking in at or that I'm feeling sleepy at the moment?? I didn't think so.

Being a blogger and working with social media with businesses, I definitely see the use for it for businesses and brands. It fills the gap and let's customers have a closer relationship to businesses then they didn't have before.

For personal use though, I'm starting to find Facebook a little, annoying. I love Twitter though still, because I am still able to upload cute pictures and network with professional people at the same while still keeping it personal.

I'd rather have a relative call me or text me versus than write on my personal Facebook Page.

I am liking Google+ though, but that could also just be because it's new and limited just like how Facebook was.

Of course though, I'll never be able to get rid of my personal Facebook account, as long as my mother keeps tagging me in all of her pictures....

When a 4 year old finds scissors...

Yesterday, my 4 year old daughter broke my heart. She completely had me crying, in tears, for at least 4 hours straight. You see, I had always took pride in my daughter. She had never drew on the wall, had skipped throwing tantrums in the terrible two's, and even made a super easy switch from being the only baby, to becoming a big sister. Yesterday though, she broke my heart.

This is a lovely picture of my 1st born angel. This is her 2 weeks ago at her first day, of her 3rd year of ballet class. Take note of her beautiful long, thick curls. She very much is a girly girl, except for the fact that she's very much like a tom boy :) I love her hair though. We braid it, have it long and flowy, and she refers to her hair as Rapunzel's hair.

Then...

I walked in on this yesterday...

Yes. That's hair. Truly's hair. Mixed in is some of her pony's hair too.

My dear sweet Truly did the unthinkable and decided that she needed a haircut of her own. I couldn't believe it. "Why?!?" I begged, "Why would you do this??!"

She knew I was upset and mad, but she told me, "Mommy, it's hot, and I'm beautiful, I wanted to be beautiful..."

She continued, wiping my silly tears, "Now it's like Rapunzel too when she cut her hair, I'm beautiful."

"Truly... yes.... you are always beautiful....."

Teenage Years Don't Scare Me

Outside Katy Perry Concert

Requests to my 4 year old, to the future teenager that awaits me

Dear Truly,

If this is the attitude that I get now, I do not look forward to our teenage years together.

Plus, I'm pretty sure you will be taller than me.

And then you remind me that you are a sweet, precious little girl, who loves and appreciates me so much!

The Katy Perry Concert Stage

Even though everyone warns me about your teenage years, I know that our teenage years together will only be as horrible and stressful as I allow. 

This was our first big concert, out of many to come, going together.

Juice in The City Deal: $15 for $30 Worth at Delice Chocolatier & Patisserie

Fitting Through Tunnels and Stealing Teenagers' Clothes

I started really trying to lose weight about 2 months ago. During July though, we went on vacation, I didn't gain on weight (amazingly) but didn't lose any either. I've dedicated myself into not overeating, which has been a huge problem for myself, and going to the gym and working out at least 4 times a week. 

My motivation for losing weight was I was about 40 lbs over my pre-baby weight. My "baby" is almost 2 years old. I wanted to lose the weight now before those extra 40 lbs decided they were at home and would stay forever. 

Another motivation of mine was that my daughters love to play. They love to jump, climb up trees, and go through tunnels. When mommy is constantly fussing at her shirt and can't fit through the tunnels, all the fun is gone.

My last motivation to lose weight is I have 2 teenage sisters who are gorgeous and thin. Not to sound like I am comparing myself because I get that they are teenagers and can eat what they want and still look fab, but it's hard to go places with two gorgeous sisters who are also thin. My family is awesome, but they know what I used to look like and it gets a little depressing when everyone knows that I "used" to be like them. No one ever criticizes me of course, they all encourage me because I can get depressed at times about it. I'm not trying to go allll the way back to pre-baby weight, because, well that's just ridiculous. I was 115 lbs back then, waaay to thin for me. But I'd still like to steal my sisters clothes every now and then.

So here is my progress: I've lost about 15 lbs, and 3 pant sizes. I love how I'm looking and feeling. About 10 more lbs and my sisters clothes will be mine!!! (oh and I'l be healthier too)

Juice in The City Deal: $7 for $15 Worth of Caribbean Cuisine at Calypso Rotisserie

If Everything I Owned Were Gone

Yesterday afternoon, my city fell into some turmoil. Wildfires filled an area of our city and I watched (and read via twitter) about evacuations and families staying at friends' homes. I always hear on the new about hurricanes and earthquakes and wildfires happening in other states, but having this hit just 10 miles away shook me a little bit.

Hearing about people whose homes were burning, all I could do was look around my home and think, "Man, If all this stuff burned up, that would really be awful!" I mean, I'd be more than overjoyed that my family was safe and that our love and compassion for one another could never be hurt, but it still pains me to think about all of this stuff that I worked so hard to buy, would just be burning away during one afternoon.

It's not that I have nice things either, or that my children are spoiled, (they are though) but just looking back on all of the nights spent blogging and writing, working with deadlines, and stressing out about how to pay this and that. To have all of that hard work just disintegrate would probably break me.

So I started thinking, why would I work so hard for something that I can't take with me, something that can just be taken away in an instant? What is the point in busting my ass day and night for something that can break, be stolen, or burned?

What can't be taken away from me, are memories. Instead of investing my money in something that can be taken away from me, I should invest it into memories, time with my children, annual museum passes, trips to Disney twice a year, long summer days, and even longer nights.

Because, really, what else is there? 

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Today's Juice in The City deal is another day of pampering for all of your hard work you put up with over the long summer!

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Raising Children: They'll Do As They Please

No one can tell you what to do. It's a proven fact of human nature. No matter how right that other person may be, or how wrong they may think you seem, you will never do what anyone will ever ask you. You will always do what you desire, and what you think is best. Sure, other people's opinions and thoughts may cause some influence, but your actions are never a direct influence of other people. Your actions come from something inside of you telling you what to do.

Is that a bad thing though?

If you are confident in yourself, then of course not. Now, if you question yourself, than this kind of thinking may do more harm than good.

I've always been one to know exactly what I wanted. Growing up as a rebellious, but still loving teenager, I would overhear my mother telling other people, "She will just do what she wants, what can I do." To give my mother some credit, she did a lot. I was grounded plenty and punished for my actions. Her reasoning though, was correct. I would never admit I was wrong until I knew deep down inside that I was the wrong one. 

So what do you do when someone close to you is making the wrong decision?

You can't say or do anything that can change their mind. What you can do, is be there for them, guide them, and build their confidence in themselves so that you can trust that they know what is best for them.

This is the type of mentality I hope to bring to my children as they get older and go through the phases of discovering who they are.

Sure it will be hard to understand that loving them, and disciplining them, is not the same thing as making them do what I please.

I hope to build their confidence in their decisions, and that they must always do what is right for themselves.

Because no one can tell you what to do. Except yourself.

Juice in The City Deal: $9 for 6 Custom Cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes

Today's Juicy deal lasts for a couple of days, so you have plenty of time to take advantage of this awesome deal!

September Goals

It is finally September. I feel as if August literally kept dragging on and September would never get here! I guess for me it's because there are a lot of things happening in September, from the Katy Perry Concert I am going to go to with my sisters and Truly, to us moving into our new house on the 15th. We have so much to prepare for, so many things to buy, and so many different things to make sure that will go smoothly.

Being it's the beginning of the month, I thought I'd try writing down some goals I'd like to accomplish this month. This way, I have something to keep me accountable for all my actions of the month.

September Goals

• Practice patience with the children
• Make an additional $200 a week 
• Save money this month for Christmas gifts
• Get Truly to write A-Z and know how each one sounds, start reading small words
• Get at least 2 articles published (and paid for)
• Write at least 3 guest posts for other sites
• Lose 10 more lbs.

I think that should do it!

Plus, my favorite song of September

Juice in The City Deal: $15 for $30 Worth of Children's Apparel at Kid to Kid

Today's Juice in the City deal is one you can not miss!!

Kid to Kid buys and sells gently used children’s clothing, toys, furniture and other baby items. Local moms can trade in their own goods for cash or store credit, so everyone comes out a winner! They carry the latest trends in baby and children’s clothing and toys, and all of it is practically like new - but costs you much less than pricey department stores! Besides tons of cute clothing, you can find all sorts of equipment and furniture here. Looking for cribs or cradles? Check. Strollers and joggers? Check, check. Don't miss the large selection of nursery décor, high chairs and other equipment, all in great condition. Grab this deal and get $30 worth of clothing for only $15 at one of three Kid to Kid locations in San Antonio. You’ll be surprised how far it stretches! Not only will you be saving money by shopping here, but you'll be helping Mother Earth too, which we love.

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