Learn how one child makes a special difference in so many; Auggie, Via, Jack Will, Julian, Justin, Miranda;
a few of the special names that impact others in this story, just by silent acts of kindness.
A movie that is a must see for every family. With many classes reading this best selling novel and the #ChooseKind Campaign behind it, this is a story everyone can learn from. So many great quotes from the movie that no doubt, we would all love to see posted in school classrooms and buildings. Never underestimate the power of a kind, observant teacher or staff member, and the impact they make on our future generations to come. It IS a village with the right people, the right hearts, and the acts of kindness, that lead the path of a loving community and child. Its hard to put this movie into words, here a just a few of the gazillion impact moments...
*No matter what a person looks like, we all face many similar challenges.
I loved when Auggies sister, Via, talks through a "friend break up" that Auggie experiences. "Right now, we ARE each others best friends." These siblings stick together.
Chain letters are not our thing, this is way better! Follow this delicious & simple recipe... to enjoy the yummy results with friends and family! This is one to be easy and passed on as far as our mouth watering taste buds can take us! My friend Kim left me a cup of the "starter" batter, I followed directions and ten quick days later, we baked the most yummy, cinnamon sugary, cake (FYI there is nothing healthy about this recipe)! This recipe makes 2 loafs so 1) me and my kids happily devoured and 2) we shared with Angie on her special "baby" day! Thanks Kim for sharing this Amish Recipe Love!! Below is a copy of the "starter" recipe & here's a link to make an original (Jen@ www.EatCakeForDinner.net.) Please share your comments and photo fun of your starters to see how far this recipe has gone! (Nicole, Laura, Marie & Kelly to start!)
If its one thing many of us don't do enough of, its enjoying our very own backyard. Well, yes our home backyard of course, but our very own city life backyard. If you are local and in the area, this is definitely worth putting on your holiday to do list (just try to be in the moment with me and not in the crazy hustle and bussel we are all in :) so trust me and add this on that long list!).
With it being the last, beautiful- is it really winter-day outside, we decided to embrace the city life of downtown Milwaukee. 64 degree weather on a December 4th night was enough to hit the town itself! The drive into the city skyline could light up any "bahumbug" spirit. The trees on every downtown street lit up in holiday smiles. The weather may not have said it but the beautiful holiday decorations on every corner definitely showed that the Christmas Season was here. We went downtown to the Market Place where there was a Gingerbread Display that college students created; their amazing talent took Gingerbread homes to a whole new level. These homes were available to be bid on to raise money for their local community projects. These were also Gingerbread homes that the best were voted on; this brought some serious viewing and fun into the beautiful display. Take a look at the photos I couldn't resist sharing with you!
Such a familiar image and quote that we all remember when it comes time for Scrooge and the Holidays! With Christmas Cheer here, our calendars are already filled with Holiday School Events, family & friend gatherings, shopping galore for gifts & baking like crazy for goodies to share, with much, much, much more, forgetting the true meaning of Christmas; preparing for Jesus, Himself. My kids, (and yours too!) are growing up so fast. We slowly are falling short when it comes to time together, preparing for Jesus, as a family. One tradition that I do love and enjoy, is embracing the amazing local talent in an annual Holiday Musical/Play. It always puts me back in check to slow down and to keep the main thing, the main thing. In this case, the main person, JESUS! (& I love when my parents join us for the occasion!)
My cuties and I have made this a few times already so we just had to share the love!! Thanks to The Morning Blend for introducing this tasty treat to us! We followed this easy- peasy and delicious Apple Pie Recipe from Sendiks.com and had a ton of fun making it! Quick & Simple with a little perfecting to make our own along the way!
1 Pkg of 2 Count Pie Crusts (optional for a 3rd & 4th crust to place or weave on top for overachiever)
1/2 c. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Flour
2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
8 Medium Sliced Apples (haha! don't forget to peal them, great with, but better without! I preferred the sweet Granny Apples.)
Friday comes around quick in this household. The kids toss their bags down, run to the fridge to grab a snack before they make a run back out the door to play. "I'm starving Mom!" as if they haven't eaten a thing all day. Before you know it they are back for more and ready for dinner time. In between opening and closing the cabinet doors or the fridge, they grab a drink, a bite, or in some teenage cases, a full meal at least for the next 15 minutes until they are hungry again. A typical day for most families right? (Ok, we eat throughout the day for you organized scheduled meal time moms out there.) Go ahead, Google "Kids Hunger"; Hunger Task Force, Kids Count Data Book, No Kid Hungry, Stop World Hunger. and a gazillion more links you will find. These are all titles that we hear platforms on but it doesn't click because we are able to feed our children and have our own daily struggles to worry about, right? Maybe we feel its too overwhelming and really how can just "I" make a difference? Well, what if that child is YOUR child's best friend that doesn't eat, and YOU have no clue because its not something that comes up at play time.
A battle I faced when I turned 40, just a number anyway
right, no way I was the heaviest ever and I was not facing the doctor again with that #?! Not for me, I was 9 months in
and I had to make a choice and stop the battle within myself. I stopped working out months ago, or was it
years? & started putting myself last.
Within the everyday chaos serving the needs of my family I did what I
told every mom what NOT to do and quit thinking about myself when it came to
health and nutrition. My to-do list was a million things long but was the list as important as my health? “Oh it’s just a
season, I’ll get back on track!” I’d
say. I choked down my Garcinia Cambogia
please- make- me- skinny- overnight- pills with a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar
and realized this is not the only thing that’s going to get me back on
track! I have to say, I started off on
the right path, I had all the right people in my court helping me out; Personal
9Round trainers Jerry & Trina, Emily with Shakeology, Angie my detox queen
with supplementing properly, and Dr. Sweet with chiropractic care. Even with all
the right people & tools, it was the mindset that I couldn’t get on track! I would think about it so much that I swear I
did it but saw no physical results! Ever
feel that way?! Wow, how the mind plays
games on me!
1st day of summer break. Students are out but Teachers are in, cleaning
the last of their decorations, taking down the old, and excited for a summer
break of their own. My daughters Julia,
Mia, and I walked into the building ready to help two of our best teachers from
the year swap classrooms; Mrs. (Katie) Ruffolo, 1st grade, moving
out and onto a new school in the district, and Mrs. (Becky) Pierson, 2nd
grade, moving in. We kept laughing how
Julia was going to be in the same classroom 2 years in a row from Mrs. Ruffolo
to Mrs. Pierson, funny stuff. Our family
loved being at school together helping out where we can and when it comes to
our teachers, this was right where we wanted to be kicking off our summer, believe
it or not, at least for the first few hours J .
The Ruffolo Family!
Katie and I shared the plans of our summer in between taping &
labeling boxes and moving desks out of the way.
The girls popped in and out of the classroom transporting items back and
forth across the halls. Katie, with
husband Keith, have three beautiful children of her own, the oldest, Maddy (K5
at the time), Ryan & Emily. Keith was
also off work a little bit during the summer so family time was well on its way
and many trips were planned to fill it! We
talked about the plans both of our families had and how fast this summer was
going to fly by just thinking about it.
It was a great end to a perfect school year and a new beginning to
another fun summer. Or was it…
Only about 3 weeks in, all those plans changed and within an instant, Mrs. Katie Ruffolo was in intensive care and coding, unsure if we’d ever see her again. EColi took over Katies body, and this fast moving monster had no idea who it was dealing with.
"You don't know how strong you are until you have no choice." -Katie Ruffolo
Well, we checked it out and our votes here at home are 50/50. Not like The Moms opinion matters on this one but we are the buyers of this company (CEO of our own households people!) so here's what I have to say about the Pros & Cons of each for all the CEO's out there...
Good Old Fashion Chalk
Get it at The Dollar Store, Walmart, Target, really anywhere; affordable, fun, may break into pieces but still good enough to last an afternoon of artsy imagination to let their minds go wild! Smaller pieces used as hopscotch rocks, crushed darker artsty areas on concrete, or what have you (your professionals know what to do!) Like crayons, they just keep collecting in a bucket and toss them when its time, but its a never ending supply because its inexpensive and fun :)
Meet Kim Buchanan, Executive Producer of the Morning Blend! Including a special bonus clip with TV Host, Molly Fay as they share their love and laughs with us!
(Don't mind the techie parts, lol! I'm a learner!)
& read on to learn more about this Morning Blend Mom!
When I took the time to look up "Dangers of not wearing a helmet", the photos that came up were gut wrenching; Children in hospital beds with more than just scrapes and bruises on their faces; bandages, wires, cuts, and more. Go ahead google it, you'll get the picture, ones that I just couldn't stomach to share. What happens with the slightest fall when our children have a "little accident" while riding their bike in the driveway, just heading across the street or around the corner to the park? What happens when you hop on that ATV while camping for a quick ride with a passenger wrapping his or her arms around you so tight from behind & then falls backwards onto the concrete? Accidents happen and they can be deadly. The sun is out and the summer weather keeps peaking in. Our kids are more than anxious to hop on those bikes and get moving. The Moms Diet brings in our helmet expert...
There's no prouder moment as a parent than when your kids know others need you more than them. That's when Jacelyn, mother of Ethan (12) & Wyatt (9), Wife to Larry who is a Coach & Educator, and all good friends to our family, knew it was ok to finally take the opportunity to help others in another country.
Jacelyn works for the Medical College of Wisconsin as a surgical assistant and has done so in the operating room for 16 years. She is an amazing friend with a huge heart! She is there when, and if our family ever needs her, (and with her background, we sure do need her, and all her fun too!:)). It seemed the hospital felt the same when they asked her again, as they have in years passed, to join them on their mission trip to Nicaragua.
I had the opportunity to join our local 9Round Team climbing the stairs to the top of the US Bank Building downtown this past weekend for the "Fight for Air Climb 2017". This event is organized by the American Lung Association in Wisconsin (ALA). What a great experience it was! I always express how important it is to surround yourself with the amazing people, that help make a better version of you each day. I'm so thankful for my 9Round trainers who gave me that push to commit to it. If I did not hop on the computer taking the 1st step to register, I would've not had the motivation to move forward for this fun experience!
THE SHACK (Written by William P. Young) Book & Movie Chat! (CAUTION: This may be a spoiler for you if you have not read the book or seen movie yet!)
When I saw the trailer for this movie, I was very excited! A few years ago, a friend had lent me this book that I quickly read through it all thinking, they have to make this a movie! Years later AND with Tim McGraw appearing in it to be a bonus, the movie has arrived. This is the first book I have ever read that followed with a movie and said, "The Movie is so much better." You don't hear that too often! If you are not a person of strong faith, it sometimes takes a miracle or sometimes a tragedy, for that to change. Either way, exploring more ways to grow in faith is a blessing.
"The Holy Spirit, Papa, Mack & The Son"
This movie gives you an even bigger, more beautiful perspective than the book. The colors and beauty look beyond magnificent in a huge theater setting & makes the story even more "heavenly". The view, sound, sight, and understanding of how much beauty could be brought from such a tragedy is well read in the book but so heart warming and breath taking as you see it on the big screen. My heart still hurts from this movie feeling as angry as the father did when tragedy struck his family. More than tragedy, let's be real, a parents worst nightmare...ever... As a mother I would feel the guilt and pain of not being there with my family, how could a mother let such a thing happen and how does a mother & father move forward together as a family? But even Nan, the mother in this movie has that sense of Godliness, peace and calmness knowing God is always in control. Nan refers to God as "Papa", understanding that God is indeed the Holy Father of us all and shows the respect and trust she holds in Him. Her part was "small" but very serene and effective as a character that God trusts.
Join our family fun with some Fried Dough "Crostelle"!
Produced & Directed 8/2017
(all my little Italians, click on that small square on the right hand bottom of video above to make screen bigger while watching! Don't worry, we gotchya!)
It was party time, celebrating my beautiful nieces birthdays as they were home for their summer visit from Virginia. It's our chance to be with them enjoying a gorgeous day and special family fun together. Mom & Dad got the house ready, my sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles brought the families with hungry tummies, Aunt Clara brought the dough and I brought the Camera Man!! Haha, that would be my hubby of course, but with all these components, we couldn't resist but to have a little video fun together while the kids "frolicked to and fro" haha!! So enjoy this video as much as we enjoyed celebrating! And Happy Birthday my beautiful-fun-loving angels, Zoe (12), Layla (8) & Emery (7). (Stay tuned they may be hosting a Cake-Bake-Off soon!)
Betch'ya thought I was going to give tips on a hearty healthy kick start breakfast?! Nope, sorry but I am going to share an even better chat...
Monday mornings; starting off after a busy weekend of the usual crazy schedules, family-friend-fun and yes, time with one another that we don't get often. Mondays are just tough getting up and back in routine but for most work places, its chaos and tons to "catch up on" because technically, the world still carries on Saturday and Sunday. Anyways, Mondays...
We love making our Cake Pops to share with friends, family, classrooms and even special party treats! Cake Pop Production definitely goes into full effect when it comes to Valentines Day at this house! Let those adorable cuties of yours take full participation in making each one with their special touch, that's the fun part!!! Thanks to our dear friend Abbey that gave us the original and simple way to make them, perfecting it with a different recipe every time!! No special "Cake Pop Baker" needed!! Keep it super simple, fun, and as less dishes possible for clean up!!
Great clip right?! A little refresher on what most of us already know??
I was always so quick to say, "we all have the same amount of time, its how we manage it", and most of the women I know manage their schedules pretty tight filling every second of the day with maybe a quick bathroom break. This was the assumption of, "everyone will make the time to do whatever they'd like, it was about adjusting priorities". Every minute accounted for anything, and everything we choose to do, need to do, want to do. Except when we completely crash of exhaustion and our crazy schedules catch up with us. That is when we find everything is put on the back burner because we don't feel good or are just. completely. wiped. out.
Thank you to Ryan Jay Reviews, my girlfriend, Liz and I got a sneak preview of this exciting movie that we've been waiting TWO YEARS to see since the first 50 Shades of Grey 2015!!! This trilogy written by E.L. James came to theaters after amazing book reviews and fans couldn't be more ecstatic to see the domineering Christian Grey come to life with the flawless and at-first-timid Anastasia Steele. Before anything else...The soundtrack is a MUST HAVE without a doubt!
#50ShadesDarker, had us giddy at the end of it, feeling the love and excitement that everyone feels when they first fall in love themselves and yes, maybe even blush a little...ok alot! Christian finds his way back into Ana's heart as Ana finds her way to be "completely" in his after a difficult past that she wants to be let in on. This time Ana feels Christian has changed his ways, until one haunting moment he is forced back to do what he is trying to put behind him and be called "master" without choice. Growing up in a difficult past had him dealing with it dangerously.
Liz, Ryan Jay & Connie
With having read the books so long ago, there were still some surprises that had you in tears and joy all at the same time wanting these two to be forever together. Grey's brother and sister had a small part in this film but no disappointment, considering you didn't feel the connection on screen with either of them. (The book is always better in this case getting more of a Grey Family Feel with the siblings!) Grace, "mother", played by the talented Marcia Gay Harden, was played perfectly with the beautiful Kim Basinger as "Elena". Both of these ladies brought everything right from the book onto the screen and you wanted more of them in the opposite ways they showed to "protect" their Christian helping him move forward from his past.
Sneak Preview before Movie released!
What else did you want more of...MR.CHRISTIAN GREY!! #LoveIsLoveIsLove! Watching him do whatever it takes to keep his Ana and how he rids of all boundaries to let her in completely makes your heart melt wanting to fall in love with innocence all over again (well, for me and my own handsome hubby of course)! Ana is whitty and funny and stronger than ever in this film allowing Christian to be in her life with mutual agreements of "many". Neither one giving nor taking more but both all in together.
Love conquers all! No secrets & no rules this time around with Christian and Ana make it funny, loving, steamy hot, protective and empowering to never doubt your talents and be ready for the opportunity (career wise, you kinky minds out there!) Don't miss it this Valentines Day, definitely better than the first and a must-see for every 50/E.L. Fan out there!
As we find ourselves becoming professional taxi drivers & serious fans of keeping up with our kids crazy schedules and driving them from one place to the next each day, we also find ourselves taking the time to talk with friends old and new all while our kids become involved in many of the same school and sports activities.
We may not know this at the time, but its the season while our kids are growing with their group of friends and we find ourselves growing with the parents of those friends! As our kids grow together as neighborhood friends, or as a team or club, WE grow together with the parents as well.
This is where our worlds reconnect! Julia and I had met in college briefly. Years later we find ourselves again in our enormous world, with our own girls at the same age, same school, involved in the same activities and Julia and I reconnect once again on a new level of growing closer to God. She shared this book with me and I shared it with a few others. With the great response from discussing it, here is where we share our online book chat of "Resisting Happiness" with YOU! Please take the time to watch the 6 minute introduction to our upcoming Book Review (& links following above) and join us and many others on our Happiness Journey together.
Just take the time to know it, accept it and most of all,
AGREE WITH IT (stubborn mommas out there ;).
#Blessed
Life is so crazy every single day. Take the time to feel Blessed. Here's a little break down:
B-Be in the moment, here and now! Sometimes it takes putting your phone down to see the world right in front of you. Put worrying aside and keep the faith that all will turn out right for a bigger purpose.
L-Love yourself; who you are, what you do, decisions you've made, right at this very moment. Enjoy your journey and love YOU. Don't talk bad about yourself and always appreciate the great things about YOU.
E-Encourage & Empower others, don't be a "negative nellie", be their biggest cheerleader. It never helps being negative towards others. We are all our own worse critic. We don't need to help others in that area, women are already hard enough on themselves. Just take the time to encourage others or don't say anything at all. It's a lot more fun and exciting to be with others when you are all allowing each other to SHINE!
S-Surround yourself with positive people. ALWAYS! This may be a small circle but it doesn't matter. Its easy to step away from the negative once you've tried it. Don't get caught up in it and do your best to find good in not so positive people, maybe they just need a little help themselves on confidence and not hurting others?!! Be with the people that celebrate you, not tolerate you. Its a beautiful atmosphere.
S-Spend time on yourself. Make it a habit to take 20-30 minutes out of your crazy day. Study scripture, listen to an audio while getting ready in the morning, go for a quick walk or a 30 minute workout (9Round :)) Spend time on prayer, your health, feed yourself and your mind with awesomeness each day.
E-Embrace your life, this is a once in a lifetime shot!!! Evaluate what or who stresses you out, and make a decision to turn it around and bring happiness and peace in your life. Learn from every single situation and be a stronger person because of it. This lifetime is way too short to not embrace every day, embrace the person you are and love & embrace the people you choose to surround yourself with.
D-DON't listen to other critics! Critics of everything, Master of None?! I love that saying. Don't worry about what you "should" be doing, what others are "saying" about you, or actions of others. Its none of your business what others say about you and especially not your worry of what others are doing. Be YOURSELF and let it go if its negativity towards you. When you take the time to see the goodness in others, you'll see that some are just trying to workout their own struggles that have nothing to do with you.
Overall, STAY BLESSED!!!
Stay true to you and love all others too! (It's really not that hard to do!)
A movie that is a must see for every family. With many classes reading this best selling novel and the #ChooseKind Campaign behind it, this is a story everyone can learn from. So many great quotes from the movie that no doubt, we would all love to see posted in school classrooms and buildings. Never underestimate the power of a kind, observant teacher or staff member, and the impact they make on our future generations to come. It IS a village with the right people, the right hearts, and the acts of kindness, that lead the path of a loving community and child. Its hard to put this movie into words, here a just a few of the gazillion impact moments...
